German President, official visit to Tirana. Steinmeier: Cooperate on EU reforms and integration

15:36 01/12/2022

In the first official visit after 27 years, Tirana welcomed a German president. Frank-Walter Steinmeier was received by President Bajram Begaj with an official ceremony, which was followed by a meeting and a joint press conference. Germany’s support for the European aspiration of the Albanians was the first message that Steinmeier gave to his counterpart Begaj, as he underlined that the Berlin Process is the path that accelerates the integration towards the union for the countries of the Western Balkans.

“I would like to thank you for your special commitment during the Berlin Process. You contributed to the signing of three important mobility agreements between the six countries of the Western Balkans on November 3 in Berlin. Progress in the EU membership process depends in particular on you. Albania will enrich the European Union also in the cultural dimension”.

And in view of Albania’s European integration, President Steinmeier also sees the summit of EU leaders that will be held on December 6 in Tirana.

“We must take into consideration that this is a working meeting between the EU and the Western Balkans. There will be no decisions, but the right encouragement must be given to the six countries of the Western Balkans. Albania and North Macedonia should be seen with pride in the process of European integration”.

For the Albanian head of state, Germany remains one of the main partners for foreign policy, as well as the assistance given in European integration.

“The process of negotiations for EU membership is long. The opening of negotiations is a historic achievement for us and of course for the road ahead we need the cooperation that we have had. Germany has been a partner especially in the integration processes”.

While in parliament, the President of Germany invited the political class to put aside divisions and cooperate on important reforms.

“Continue to work in the fight against obstacles, in the fight against corruption, follow the initiated justice reform and work beyond the trenches between the opposition and the government, work together. The common destination with EU membership is worth the effort, you can be confident in Germany’s further support on this path.”

The German president sees Albania as a country with a mature democracy and at the international level as a guardian of the world order with its contributions to NATO, OSCE and recently to the Security Council, so he also addressed a call to European skeptics.

“It excites me how much the European spirit is felt in your country, and I wish to appeal to all people who have doubts about the European spirit to come here and be infected in some way with the European spirit.”

During the official visit to Tirana, the German president is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Rama. While his visit was commented positively by the chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha.

The president comes here as a friend and head of a country that has helped Albania from 1990 to today, with over 1 billion and 300 million euros. A country that has supported Albania in all its efforts to establish democracy and a market economy. As Foreign Minister, he has supported the liberation of Kosovo together with the government of his country”.

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