Xhaçka receives Montenegrin counterpart Radulović: Albania-Montenegro relations, stability factor and model for the region

According to her, Albania-Montenegro relations are a factor of stability and a model for the region.

“It is a special pleasure to welcome in Tirana my counterpart Đorđe Radulović, the Foreign Minister of a neighboring and friendly country such as Montenegro.

I thank Minister Radulović for the visit and for the opportunity we had to discuss closely the relations between us, but also for the situation in the region where excellent relations between our countries have long been a factor of stability and security but also a model for the region.

I am pleased that the relationship between us has marked a marked progress and intensification in recent years. Montenegro’s membership in NATO, which Albania has fully supported and to which the Albanians of Montenegro have an inalienable contribution, has directly contributed to the expansion of the dimension of cooperation between us but also to the consolidation of the Euro-Atlantic perspective of region.

Albania considers Montenegro an important regional partner, an irreplaceable ally in NATO and in the whole process of EU membership.

Albania, as a future non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, here I find the opportunity to thank and publicly Montenegro for supporting our candidacy, among its main priorities, will be the promotion of peace, security, resolution of conflicts through dialogue, where obviously our region will receive a focus of special attention. And where, of course, we are open to deepening dialogue and communication between our countries to advance the common agenda of stability and integration.

We had the opportunity to discuss the deepening of bilateral relations, where an essential part of our discussion was the implementation of agreements signed at the first meeting of the two governments, the opening of new border crossings, increased investment and projects in cross-border areas, with an impact direct in increasing the welfare of this area, road transport, water, rail with a focus on their inclusion with European corridors, as well as the creation of joint tourist packages.

Beyond these projects, in the framework of intergovernmental cooperation, I appreciate the commitment of our two governments for joint applications for EU funds to improve interconnection, various road axes, scientific, cultural, educational cooperation, etc. Let us turn Lake Shkodra into a developed and quality point of attractive tourism and this was one of the topics we discussed.

As announced by the Prime Ministers of our two countries, during the opening ceremony of the Gorem Joint Border Crossing Point, the next meeting of the joint meeting of the two governments is scheduled to be held in the near future. Meanwhile, there are a number of joint projects we are working on.

Following the agreement on the opening of the Grabon-Cijevna Joint Border Crossing Point, we are committed to opening other border crossings on the Adriatic as soon as possible.

It should also be noted that our countries remain committed to the construction of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway, which should remain a strategic priority, because it connects Central Europe with the entire Adriatic-Ionian coast. Such a project has an impact not only on our two countries, but would have an impact on the entire region.

Minorities also play a special place in our relations. We are proud that the Albanians in Montenegro and the Montenegrin minority in our country have continuously played the role of a unifying element, which further enriches our national societies.

In this context, we believe that the increase of Montenegrin investments in areas inhabited by the Albanian population, the increase of the representation of Albanians in the central and local government, the increase of political representation in the Parliament of Montenegro between the adoption of the electoral law would serve to strengthen of mutual trust between citizen and government and between different ethnicities.

Meanwhile, on our side, with the adoption of the Law on Minorities, Albania has given the Montenegrin minority the place and value it deserves. And here I find the opportunity to greet the opening of the Honorary Consulate of Montenegro in Shkodra, which is an extremely good step.

Finally, the signing today of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academies of our two ministries will concretize the increase of cooperation, not only through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, but also through our own diplomats.

Thank you very much dear Đorđe for being here today, it was a special pleasure“, Said Xhaçka.