Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, declared from Skopje, where he is conducting his first official visit, that Albania and North Macedonia have shown exceptional commitment on the road to the European Union.

In the press statement with his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, Hasani stated that “North Macedonia’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2023 was undoubtedly a challenging task”.

“Allow me to congratulate Bujar on the excellent leadership he has shown during North Macedonia’s chairmanship of the OSCE. Chairing the OSCE in 2023 was undoubtedly a challenging task because the truth is that since the beginning of the unlawful Russian aggression against Ukraine, the OSCE has changed a lot. There is no clearer evidence of the good work you have known to do than the fact that despite the blockades and hindrances created by Russia in the OSCE, you managed to have a successful mandate,” Hasani expressed.

“The performance of North Macedonia in the OSCE and that of Albania in the UN Security Council and earlier in the OSCE are the most undisputed indicators of the maturity that our foreign policy has achieved. A foreign policy that now needs to be more than ever at the disposal of our common agenda for a region of peace, security, and stability, with more integration and regional cooperation, but also with more proximity towards the EU,” he continued.

“It is precisely this aim, to work together for these objectives, that gave rise to this visit and this tour also to other countries in the region. Of course, in this context, the visit to North Macedonia has a special importance. Our two countries have shown exceptional commitment on the road to the EU. Both our countries have achieved remarkable results in modernizing and Europeanizing reforms. We have just successfully completed the screening process and are awaiting the next steps in a process for which both our countries have made many sacrifices and faced not easy obstacles,” Hasani pointed out.

“We have walked together for a large part of this journey, supporting and helping each other. I strongly believe that this joint journey has influenced strengthening our cooperation and making us see the future of our region in the same way,” Hasani said.

“The further expansion and deepening of this cooperation, with concrete initiatives and ideas, is crucial for the future of the region in a time full of uncertainties and insecurities as the one we live in,” Hasani stated.

“Albania will continue to closely follow the developments in North Macedonia, especially in an election year like this, where presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for the spring. We hope that this process goes well, but above all, we hope that this process and its result do not bring any change in commitment to the common European perspective,” the Foreign Minister expressed.

“In this context, I want to emphasize our pride for the extraordinary role that the Albanian factor has played and continues to play in the stability of North Macedonia; in strengthening ties between our countries, for which the Albanian factor has served as a connecting bridge; and above all, for maintaining the Euro-Atlantic orientation of North Macedonia during a journey that, as I said, has been difficult and required not easy sacrifices,” he stated.

“Albania has supported and will continue to support the constructive engagement of Albanian political entities and Albanians in North Macedonia in the political process and in the effort to consolidate the rule of law, democracy, social cohesion, and equality among all citizens”.

Furthermore, Hasani emphasized, “The Albanian factor in North Macedonia has a crucial role in maintaining the country’s stability”.

“I believe that the fact that North Macedonia, even temporarily, will have an Albanian Prime Minister for the first time in its history, is a symbolic indication of the progress that this country and society have made, for which I want to express our respect and admiration to all citizens of North Macedonia. We support and encourage the continuation of the efforts and achievements of North Macedonia in building a functional multi-ethnic society based on the full implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and the Law on Languages,” Hasani concluded.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, expressed that Albania and North Macedonia should continue negotiations with the EU and accelerate their integration even before full membership, emphasizing that this is also a security issue.

Osmani stated that the two countries are much more than good neighbors; they are friendly nations.

“We have deep mutual relations, exceptionally high mutual support; partners and allies, we continue together towards our European ambitions to see both countries as full members of the European Union,” said Osmani.

Both countries have actively conducted negotiations with the EU for a year, successfully completing the screening process.

Osmani revealed that “both countries received positive evaluations and are ready to open the first clusters and chapters of negotiations without any hesitation”.

“Unfortunately, the negotiation process is currently at a standstill for both countries – and I want to emphasize that this is wrong. North Macedonia and Albania are ready to open clusters and chapters, and this should not be delayed. On the contrary, both countries should continue negotiations and accelerate their integration even before full membership,” he emphasized.

“We are NATO allies, we are countries that are 100% in line with the EU’s common foreign and security policy; we are countries with a high implementation of the European acquis in domestic legislation, representing guardians of Western civilization values here in the Balkans, and citizens rightly are impatient to get more from Europe now. To gain the opening of clusters and chapters, meaning a greater presence of Europe here in the country, as well as more integration now, ahead of full membership,” he added.

According to Osmani, this is the best and most effective way for the fundamental reform of the entire social system.

“This is also a security issue. In the modern challenges of hybrid threats, external influences, but also an active kinetic war on European soil, the integration of the Western Balkans into Europe is also a political-security issue. Russian aggression against Ukraine deserves every condemnation, and we are here undivided and resilient. Europe, certainly with the deep involvement of the United States, needs to strengthen its presence in the region, strengthen its participation in the policies of Western Balkan countries, and in this way not only strengthen our defense role but also send a powerful prevention message as one of Europe’s key security policies,” he emphasized.

Regarding economic relations between the two countries, Osmani stated that “unfortunately, they lag far behind excellent political relations”.

“Trade, which barely exceeds 200 million euros, does not correspond to the capacities of the two economies, the potential of businesses, the proximity of the two countries, and the established close relations. We undertake to elevate this issue high on the priorities of diplomacy,” he added.