US Secretary of State John Kerry Visits Tirana ISSUE No.20, February 2016
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Issue No. 20 , February 2016 US Secretary of state John Kerry visits Tirana ISSUE No.20, February 2016 Table of contents •US Secretary of State John Kerry visits Tirana •Minister Bushati meets with EU High Representative Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn •Minister Bushati meets with Foreign Minister of Belgium Didier Reynders •Minister Bushati meets with Austrian MFA Sebastian Kurz •Minister Bushati meets with MFA of Malta, George Vella •Minister Bushati pays visit to the United States •Minister Bushati meets with the US Department of State Assistant Secretary Victoria Nuland •Minister Bushati attends special session of Foreign Affairs Committee at the US Congress •Minister Bushati meets UNDP administrator, Helen Clark •Minister Bushati attends high-level meeting in the framework of UNDP 50th anniversary US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Tirana where he met with Prime Minister •Remarks of Minister Bushati at 3rd Session of UNDP Ministerial Edi Rama and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati. •Remarks of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Secretary Kerry's visit comes at a particular moment in our bilateral relations, Albania at Atlantic Council starting thus at the best way the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the •Remarks of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of reestablishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Albania Ditmir Bushati at Brookings Institution •MFA welcomes new generation of diplomats In April last year, Albania and the United States signed in Washington the Declaration of Strategic Partnership, which crowns 25 years of cooperation •Official visit of Deputy Foreign Minister between the two countries. During their meeting, Minister Bushati and Secretary Selim Belortaja to the Islamic Republic of Iran Kerry discussed the further deepening of bilateral relations, the latest • Minister Bushati @Friends of Europe developments in the region, security challenges and cooperation in multilateral organisations. •Activities organized in the premises of the @AlbanianMFA •Ministerial Meeting in Amsterdam: a reinforced Kerry extended the US unwavering support in the process of Euro-Atlantic interaction of EU with the WB Countries integration and prosperity of Albania and the Albanians in the region. He praised •Albanian Parliament ratifies agreement on establishment the reforms undertaken by the Albanian government and expressed support for of Western Balkans Fund the rapid conclusion of the justice reform, which will have direct impact on the rule of law in economy. •Two regional organizations’ headquarters soon to be established in Tirana Secretary Kerry highly appreciated the intensive cooperation with Albania as a •Regional Youth Cooperation Office of the NATO member and Albania's important contribution to peace and security in the Western Balkans to be open In Tirana region. •Deputy FM Odeta Barbullushi, meets the Sweden Secretary of State to the Minister for ICD, Ms. Ulrika Modeer Minister Bushati expressed gratitude to the United States of America for their •Minister Bushati attends SEECP Foreign continuous contribution in the democratization process, the consolidation of the Ministers’ meeting in Sofia rule of law, security and state-building reforms in our European path. •Minister Bushati’s remarks - SEECP Ministerial •Prime Minister Office •#Cultural & Digital Diplomacy Minister Bushati meets with EU High Representative Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn During the second day of his visit to Brussels, Minister Focusing on security challenges and the refugee crisis currently Bushati met with High Representative for Foreign Affairs and facing the EU and Western Balkan countries, they highlighted Security Policy of the EU, Federica Mogherini and the need that such times be used to ensure the progress of Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and modernization and democratic state-building processes in our Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn. region. During the meeting with Mrs. Mogherini, Minister Bushati During the meeting with the Commissioner for European informed her on the progress of state-building reforms in Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Albania and the government’s work in addressing the 5 key Hahn, Minister Bushati emphasized the importance of the EU priorities. The commitment of the Albanian Government to enlargement policy on the reforms’ progress, not only in conclude the judicial reform, as well as its direct effect not Albania but also in other countries of the region, as a only in areas related to the rule of law, but also in reforms geostrategic and political project. He noted that the EU aiming at improving the business climate and the rule of law enlargement policy is an instrument that promotes in economy, were at the focus of this meeting. modernization, democratization and stability among countries of the region. Mrs. Mogherini expressed support for the state-building efforts in Albania, highlighted the contribution of these After informing Commissioner Hahn on the reforms’ progress reforms to a dynamic, efficient process on the country's in Albania, mainly in the rule of law, Minister Bushati reiterated European path and praised the commitment to firmly pursue the readiness of the country to move towards a new phase, that with the conclusion of the judicial reform. Moreover, she of opening accession negotiations. praised the proactive and constructive role of Albania in the region, as well as its foreign policy’s full alignment with that Commissioner Hahn praised the stabilizing and dynamic role of of the EU. Albania in the region and expressed confidence that commitments undertaken in the framework of the Berlin Process With regard to regional cooperation, Minister Bushati will provide a better interconnection for Balkan countries. In the underlined that "efforts among Western Balkan countries framework of the integration agenda, Commissioner Hahn will highlight the need for financial support and commitment on visit Tirana at the end of March, for the next meeting of the High part of the EU, in order to consolidate sustainable Level Dialogue between Albania and the EU. Also, he will take development and meet the commitments within the part in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkan framework of the Berlin process." countries which will be organized in Tirana, on our country’s initiative. Minister Bushati meets with Foreign Minister of Belgium, Didier Reynders Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati paid a two-day visit to Brussels.On the first day, Minister Bushati held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, Didier Reynders. Ministers discussed the boost of bilateral cooperation and further intensification of the very good relations between our countries. Proof of this cooperation is the decision to jointly implement the legalisation-free regime for public documents, known as the Apostille regime. In this context, Minister Bushati thanked his counterpart Reynders for the fulfillment of this commitment undertaken during his visit in Tirana. Minister Bushati informed Minister Reynders on the progress The meeting focused on ways to deal with the refugee crisis, as of reforms undertaken by the Albanian Government and its well as its side effects for the EU and the Western Balkan commitment to pursue with the conclusion of the judicial countries. Furthermore, ministers talked about the latest reform, as an essential step for the consolidation of the rule of developments in the Western Balkan region, security challenges law in the country. He praised the extremely important role and the need for a collective approach in facing them. During of Belgium in Euro-Atlantic integration processes, as well as the meeting, they highlighted the importance of intensifying its unwavering support in this regard. cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries. Minister Bushati Meets with Austrian MFA Sebastiam Kruz Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati met with the Federal Minister Tourism remains a priority area in the Albanian-Austrian for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of cooperation, therefore, the signing of the Memorandum of Austria, Sebastian Kurz. Understanding in the field of tourism by Minister Ahmetaj and Minister Kurz aims to further boost cooperation This visit shows the excellent existing relations between Albania between our countries. and Austria, which this month mark the 94th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, as Minister Bushati praised the stance of Austria as one of the well as the 60th anniversary of their reestablishment. most vocal, pro-enlargement member states, stating that: “Today, we agreed on a tangible action plan between our The process of European integration, further strengthening of countries for 2016, which includes a series of commitments bilateral cooperation, the coordination of joint efforts in dealing and concrete activities that support Albania’s advancement with current challenges facing the European Union, such as the on the integration path, with a view to start EU accession migration crisis and security, were the main issues discussed at negotiations. This plan includes areas such as the European this meeting. Moreover, the visit of MFA Kurz in our country, as integration, economy, software development, public part of his regional tour in the Western Balkans, reconfirms the administration, education, science and civil society." solid approach of our