TIRANA, March 7/ATA/-Switzerland will provide further political and financial support to Albania.

The Swiss embassy in Tirana, in the presence of Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, State Secretary, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) presented on Wednesday the new strategy of cooperation 2018-2021 which makes evident the most important sectors in which will focus support of Swiss government and its affiliated agencies.

Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Senida Mesi highlighted in her speech delivered on this occasion the very good political relations between the two countries which find a reflection in the economic cooperation.

“The Swiss support is not only political, but even technical and financial”, emphasized Mesi.

Further on, the Deputy Prime Minister Mesi said that the government of Albania has European integration of the country its main priority.

“Albania has made progress and naturally by April we expect an unconditional recommendation by the European Commission for Albania opening the EU accession negotiations”, said the deputy prime minister.

In this context, added Mesi, there is even the support that Swiss government is providing Albania with in the context of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Mesi made evident that Swiss support to Albania began with funding of the energy sector, reform of vocational education and consolidation of the local governance.

“Albania-Switzerland partnership is not only long-term, but even sustainable because we share the same common interest, that of development and stability of the Western Balkans area”, said Mesi.

Further on, Mesi said that the current strategy 2018-2021 is a crystal clear evidence of the very good cooperation established in the course of years.

She highlighted the fact that Swiss projects in Albania are long-term extending up to 9 years and focus on fields like local governance, economic development, employment and vocational training, urban infrastructure, energy and health. “The government of Albania pays special attention to all these fields”, said Mesi.

According to her, thanks to Swiss support, Albania will progress toward realization of middle-term and long-term priorities of the country.

On her part, Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch spoke about the very good bilateral relations between the two countries and gave assurances for further support of the Swiss government to Albania on the way of European integration of the country./a.gjonaj//e.caushi/p.s./