TIRANA, June 16/ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama appreciated today that Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in particular, has unconditionally supported the process of accelerating the integration of Albania and the Western Balkans into the European Union.
During a joint press conference with the visiting Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, Rama stated that Hungary is one of the most vocal advocates of the Western Balkans in the EU and one of the most progressive forces in the relationship with the enlargement of the EU.
Rama emphasized that today’s visit of Orbán in Tirana confirms the continuation in the new path of cooperation started between the two countries.
“This is the visit of an old and steadfast friend of Albania and Albanians at all times. Thanks to PM Orbán and the commitment of the Foreign Minister and his government, we have entered a new phase of traditional friendly, but now also economic relations between the two countries. Besides the visit of a precious friend, this visit is also a continuation on that new path of cooperation. It began after our Budapest visit where we set several goals, according to which we continue to cooperate”, said Rama.
Rama emphasized that Hungary’s support for the integration of Albania in the EU has not only been verbal in the European instances, but was made concrete with expertise made available to the Albanian government in all aspects and sectors where support was requested, as well as in the framework of twinning projects of the Western Balkans fund.
“We shared the same conviction regarding the EU’s high geostrategic interest in the integration of the Western Balkans as soon as possible. Personally, I feel extremely good when I hear from the Prime Minister of Hungary that the EU needs the Western Balkans while the Western Balkans needs the EU. In this respect, it is important that this voice, this argument is heard without hesitation by all member states”, said Rama.
Likewise, the prime minister appreciated the fact that Orbán has been and continues to be the main guide of direct Hungarian investments in Albania.
“Today, we have in Albania several flag companies of the new Hungarian economy with which we are completely satisfied for the high quality they have brought and at the same time for the respect they show to the country, not just to the laws, but also to the needs of the country. We want to have more companies and we have talked about bringing more expertise and investments from Hungary in the field of energy”, said Rama.
The prime minister emphasized that tourism is a powerful bridge connecting the two countries and the tourists who visit our country and increase in number every year are the best ambassadors of Albania in Hungary.
“I believe it is time to think about investments from Hungary, which today has an industry of excellence in tourism, has a tourism economy among the most vibrant in Europe today,” said Rama.
In conclusion, the prime minister emphasized that the high-level visits between the two countries confirm the healthy and positive state of relations between the two countries.
“In a way, Hungary also has something of its own in Albania, because at the time when it could not give Albania support for EU integration and direct investments, it gave a princess who became the Queen of Albania”, he added./p.s./
