TIRANA, Feb 15 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, said on Tuesday that Albania’s position on the situation in Ukraine is very clear and 100% aligned with our allies.
In a televised interview, Xhaçka described the situation as worrying.
“All attempts to find a diplomatic solution so far have not been fruitful. The situation is as fluid as unpredictable, and like all other allies in NATO and the EU we hope there will be no war, but war is a real possibility. This is why, like many other countries, we have called on Albanian citizens who are in Ukraine, or travelling to Ukraine to leave as soon as possible or not to travel to that country. I repeat that this is a call out of our care and concern for the Albanian citizens, because if the worst case scenario, that of the war, is proven, it would be very difficult for us to come to their rescue or to help them get out of Ukraine,” Xhacka said.
“MEFA has made available several e-mail addresses and a telephone number, through which interested citizens can contact either with our representations or our consular services, for more information,” said Xhaçka.
“Albania’s position is very clear and I believe that it has been articulated more than once in various communications not only by the Prime Minister and I, but also by MEFA officials in NATO, the OSCE or the UN Security Council. It is a position that is in fact 100% aligned with our allies,” she said.
“We firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We uphold Ukraine’s sovereign right, like any other country, to choose its path, its alliances, or its model of government. So it is the right of Ukraine and the citizens of Ukraine to decide whether they see their future closer to the EU or Russia, to NATO or not. And no other country has the right to deny a sovereign country the right to choose,” Minister Xhaçka said.
“We have made it clear to our allies that the threat of war from Russia is a challenge to the entire European order and security, but also to the international security architecture. For all these reasons Albania has been and remains deeply committed, playing a first-hand role, especially after the beginning of our term in the Security Council, where we closely cooperate with the US, sharing the “pen-holdership” or co-authorship of any initiative in the Security Council related to Ukraine issue, which will undoubtedly give us the opportunity to be more active regarding this situation in the future, of course, depending on the circumstances or scenarios that will unfold,” said Xhaçka.
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