TIRANA, March 17 /ATA / Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, received on Thursday the German government’s special envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazi.
At a news briefing after the meeting, Xhaçka said that, “Germany has been and remains one of the staunch supporters of the integration of Albania and our region in the European Union and the appointment of a special envoy, who joins the special envoys of USA, EU and UK, is a welcome signal of their attention and commitment to our region, for which I thanked Mr. Saraz and through him the German government.”
“This decision, which would have been welcomed and of special importance at all times, takes on greater significance in the current situation, when the crisis in Ukraine and the Russian aggression against that country have clearly shown that Europe must invest strategically in our region, whose progress and developments have direct and long-term consequences for the security of the EU itself, ” said Xhaçka.
“We have said very often that the region needs a strategic approach from the EU and that the cost of isolating the Western Balkans is far higher than the cost of its integration. And today, after the positive signals that have come from many countries and EU representatives, including High Representative Borrell and today Mr. Sarrazin, we have reason to hope that the whole of Europe has acknowledged this truth,” stressed Xhaçka.
“I guaranteed Mr. Sarrazin that Albania, as it has traditionally done, will continue to be a factor of stability in the region. Just as Albanians everywhere will continue to be a factor of stability and guarantee for the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the region. “This is the reason why Albania today has undertaken very bold regional initiatives and why Albania today is playing such a first-hand role alongside allies and partners also in relation to the issue of Ukraine,” said Xhaçka.
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