TIRANA, September 8 /ATA/ President Bajram Begaj gave a reception for the ambassadors of present-day Albania, where he praised their role and that of diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy as irreplaceable.
“Present-day diplomat is not only a protocol representative of the state, but he is an architect of new relations, a builder of bridges of cooperation, a mouthpiece and person who formulates our values in an increasingly complex world”, said the president.
Begaj emphasized that in their work, ambassadors also have an extraordinary ally, the Albanian nationals living abroad.
“Keep the doors of the embassy open to our compatriots. They are not just statistics, but are members of the great Albanian family. This year marked a historic step for the Albanian Diaspora by enabling them to vote for the first time from the country where they live. Make sure that our embassies are not only the center of gravity of relations between states, but also safe havens and nodes of strong ties between Albania and Albanians in the world”, said Begaj.
The president underlined that Albania does not have the luxury of having passive diplomatic representatives waiting for the routine official visits to make the diplomats.
“At a time when the world is gripped by crisis and uncertainty, diplomacy constitutes one of the most precious tools for protecting national interests”, said Begaj.
The president stressed that for Albania, proactive diplomacy is a vital necessity.
“It is our way to protect security, to influence our development and to contribute with dignity to global issues. This requires cooperation above all else. More communication, more coordination of steps is needed”, added Begaj.
Begaj said that, “Foreign policy in Albania is stronger when it speaks with one voice, when institutions vote in synchrony and when we all work for the same common goal”.
“This is the condition that strengthens the state, but also gives Albania a strong voice in the international arena”, added the president.
The head of state underlined that, “We do not see EU membership as a solitary journey because we believe in a region integrated into the EU”.
Also, Begaj asked the ambassadors to continue working in cooperation with our partners for new recognition of Kosovo and its integration into the EU and the NATO.
“The future will bring new and unforeseen challenges, but with dedication, wisdom and vision, Albania will emerge stronger, more respected and more present in the world”, said the president at the reception with the ambassadors. /r.e//a.f/p.s./
