Speaking after the meeting, Hoxha thanked Cyprus for its continued support for Albania’s EU membership bid and said the two countries were seeking to deepen cooperation in tourism, energy, technology and investment.

Foreign Minister also discussed the prospect of establishing a direct Tirana-Nicosia air route, which Hoxha said would facilitate travel and strengthen economic and tourism ties between the two countries.

On regional issues, Hoxha reiterated Albania’s position that the European integration of the Western Balkans is essential for regional stability. He also said Kosovo’s recognition contributes to security and stability in Europe.

The two ministers exchanged views on security challenges in Europe and the Mediterranean, stressing the importance of dialogue, cooperation and respect for international law in resolving conflicts.

Hoxha concluded by thanking Cyprus for its hospitality and its continued support for Albania’s EU accession process.

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During the visit, Begaj is also due to attend the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2026, an international event aimed at promoting investment and economic cooperation.

Begaj was received in Tashkent with an official ceremony by Mirziyoyev. The trip marks the first official visit by an Albanian president to Uzbekistan since diplomatic relations were established in 1993 and comes amid growing engagement between the two countries over the past two years.

In talks with his Uzbek counterpart, Begaj said the time had come for Albania and Uzbekistan to move beyond formal diplomatic ties and develop practical cooperation capable of delivering tangible results in areas of mutual interest.

The two leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen political and economic relations, with particular focus on trade, energy, agriculture, tourism, digital transformation and innovation, education and culture.

Begaj also stressed the importance of translating ongoing discussions into concrete agreements between institutions in both countries and enhancing coordination within international organisations.

Highlighting people-to-people contacts as a key driver of stronger bilateral relations, Begaj called for closer exchanges between students, professionals, businesses and tourists from the two countries. He also underscored the importance of establishing direct air links to facilitate travel and economic cooperation.

Uzbekistan pledged to open an embassy in Tirana, a move expected to further support diplomatic and economic engagement.

Begaj also briefed Mirziyoyev on Albania’s progress toward membership of the European Union, describing accession as the country’s strategic objective and reaffirming Tirana’s commitment to implementing the reforms required to meet EU standards.

“For Albania, EU membership is a strategic goal and a national mission. We are working intensively to complete the necessary reforms and meet accession standards across all sectors. We are ready,” Begaj said.

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In a post on X on Tuesday, Foreign Minister said the talks reaffirmed the strong partnership between the two countries and their commitment to deepening cooperation.

Hoxha said the new embassy would help strengthen economic ties, boost trade and investment, promote tourism and expand cooperation in areas including renewable energy.

The two ministers also discussed justice and security cooperation, as well as wider geopolitical challenges facing Europe.

Hoxha highlighted the role of the Albanian community in Belgium as an important bridge between the two countries and thanked Belgium for its continued support for Albania’s EU accession process.

He said Albania had entered a decisive new phase in its EU membership bid following the eighth Intergovernmental Conference and remained focused on advancing reforms and negotiations.

Hoxha also invited Prévot to visit Albania in the near future.

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Speaking at a joint press conference in Tirana with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, Ibrahimović said the two neighbours are linked not only by geography, but also by “friendship, trust and a common vision” for the prosperity of their societies.

“Today from Tirana we send a clear message that Montenegro and Albania are not merely neighbours, but partners with shared responsibilities for the stability, security, peace and European future of the region,” he said.

Ibrahimović noted that NATO membership and alignment with European Union foreign and security policies have further strengthened bilateral ties at a time of growing geopolitical challenges in Europe.

He reiterated Montenegro’s goal of joining the European Union by 2028, adding that Podgorica remains committed to advancing accession talks and supports the EU integration of all Western Balkan countries.

The Montenegrin Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of stronger economic and infrastructure links between the two countries, particularly through the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor, which he said would improve regional connectivity and trade.

He added that the EU–Western Balkans summit to be held in Montenegro on June 5 would provide another opportunity to reinforce the region’s European perspective.

Ibrahimović also highlighted the importance Montenegro places on minority rights, saying all minority communities are guaranteed protections in line with both domestic legislation and international standards.

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Gonxhja and Lootah reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic and institutional cooperation between Albania and the UAE.

“We discussed concrete opportunities for partnerships in strategic areas such as tourism, culture, infrastructure and the creative economy, aiming to position Albania as an attractive destination for investment and long-term development,” Gonxhja said.

He described the meeting as “a constructive dialogue that opens new horizons for bilateral cooperation and sustainable economic interaction between the two countries.”

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Addressing public presentation of the “Nur” project – the gasification of the city of Korça, an event attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, and other high-ranking officials, Energy Minister underlined that Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev attaches special importance to development of bilateral relations and praised PM Rama for the unwavering support for stronger ties between the two nations.

“The friendship, strategic vision, and decisions of our leaders, along with their regular visits, have served as the main driving force for the expansion and deepening of our bilateral ties,” Shahbazov said.

Shahbazov underlined that “the first intergovernmental commission meeting in Baku last year, together with the signing of the economic cooperation deal clearly demonstrate strong will of both countries to advance partnership.

The groundwork for the project was laid in November 2024, when Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, and the Albanian gas transmission operator Albgaz signed a memorandum of cooperation focused on gas infrastructure development in the Korça region. Construction of the new infrastructure is set to begin in 2025, with full completion projected for 2027.

“This project, which is the first step in the development of gas infrastructure in Albania, is important not only to diversify the country’s energy supply and support the climate agenda, but also in terms of expanding the geography of gas supply in Azerbaijan,” Shahbazov emphasized.

Shahbazov noted that Azerbaijan has exported more than 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas to European markets through Albania, the southern corridor and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline project.

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Attending the Albania-Greece Business Forum were Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja as well as Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Kostas Fragogiannis.

Gonxhja emphasized the significance of cooperation with Greece to strengthen economic ties and create new opportunities for investment, trade, business and joint development in the region.

“Our country is in a very good economic stage, which is confirmed by the EC Progress Report for 2024, but also the opening of negotiations with the EU, as well as the improvement of Moodys’ assessment. Both countries have as a priority to build more bridges and synergy between our two countries for the benefit of our peoples, the well-being and economic development,” he said.

On his part, Fragogiannis extended the same invitation to Greek investors to increase their presence in the Albanian market.

“I wish that today’s business meeting will open new avenues of communication and cooperation. I invite you as businessmen and investors to actively participate in the recovery and transformation of Albania, Greece and the Balkans, in general. The future is ahead. We can move towards it together,” he said.

While President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nikolin Jaka called for joint contracts, arguing that the Albanian enterprise is a serious partner.

“I call on Greek businesses to see Albanian business as a successful, serious and stable partner and to enter into joint cooperation contracts”, said Jaka.

On her part, President of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sofia Kounenaki listed some sectors of the Albanian economy where the presence of Greek business is high.

“Albania has potential in sectors such as food and beverages, construction, tourism, fields in which Greek businesses have high experience. There exist also tremendous opportunities in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, building materials and energy. An important area is start-ups and innovation,” she said.

Greece ranks among Albania’s main partners in terms of foreign direct investments and foreign trade. Trade exchanges with Greece are estimated at 68.6 billion ALL during the 10 months of the current year. While the stock of Greek investments at the end of the first half of the year is estimated at 245 million euros. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

Speaking at the 2BS forum in Budva, Montenegro, the Slovak diplomat noted that Kosovo-Serbia relations are the region’s biggest strategic challenge with repercussions that could hinder both regional cooperation and European integration.

He recalled the fact that both countries reached a normalisation deal 18 months ago, but no obvious progress has been made on its implementation since then.

“We are seeking Kosovo government efforts to enforce the rule of law in northern Kosovo. Everyone supports the rule of law, but Kosovo’s actions have triggered tensions and have sparked opposition from global stakeholders and disappointment within local communities,” Lajčák noted.

“Unfortunately, the way it has been implemented has led to more tension and frustration,” he said, referring to the closure of Serbian parallel institutions in northern Kosovo.

Lajčák emphasised that escalating confrontation benefits no one. “This serves neither the citizens, Kosovo, Serbia, nor the region,” he remarked.

During the forum, Lajčák also addressed the recent armed attack in Banjska, northern Kosovo, stressing that the European Union expects those responsible to be held accountable.

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Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Lira Pipa gave the news at the Cultural Diplomacy panel as part of the “DIPLO 2024” Ambassadors’ Conference.

Three prominent ambassadors of Albanian art and culture in the world participated in this panel: Lea Ypi, Albanian academic and author, Ramë Lahaj, well-known opera tenor and Professor Matteo Mandala, researcher of Albanian and Arbëresh literature.

“Diplo 2024” served as a platform for ambassadors, artists and representatives of the Diaspora to discuss and share successful experiences with the country of origin and foster dialogue on challenges and opportunities in cultural diplomacy. /p.s./

During their discussion, Ms. VanHorn highlighted the importance of strengthening business ties and investments between the United States and Albania, and supporting strategic projects across the country and region, reported the US embassy in its social media page.

They also discussed opportunities to further enhance collaboration in the energy and infrastructure sectors. /a.f/p.s./