The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, held a meeting in Tirana with his Bosnian counterpart, Elmedin Konakovic. During the joint press conference, Hasani stated that the potential of developing bilateral relations, still untapped, as he added that the reopening of the respective embassies shows the will to intensify the relations between the two countries. Hasani said that integration in the EU is a positive dynamic for the integration of the region.
“After the successive meetings we have had recently, in various international contexts and European tables, it was a pleasure to welcome today in Tirana, on an official visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Elmedin Konakovic, to whom I expressed the desire that our contacts and work with Bosnian partners should not be rare and not left to chance.
For this, be sure, dear Dino, that our hospitality will never be lacking. With Minister Konaković, we held sincere and fruitful talks, reviewed and evaluated the progress of the relations between our two countries, and concluded that the potential of the development of bilateral relations is still not properly utilized. Well, we set some milestones for our further work and discussed directions for laying the tracks for deepening and expanding bilateral cooperation.
Our will is to move forward as much as possible.
The re-opening of the respective embassies in our two capitals aims precisely at the practical realization of this will. It is a step that shows mutual attention and the desire to raise them to a new level and to further develop the relations between our countries, in all areas of common interest.
During the conversation I had with my colleague Konaković, we found again that Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina share the same approach in terms of strengthening regional cooperation, and in this context, I expressed to our Bosnian friend the request for a reassessment of the position regarding Kosovo’s membership in regional initiatives, or even for the relief of some problems related to human exchanges between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. As neighboring countries in the region, but also as geopolitical realities of the new century in function of peace and stability in our common space, but also in a wider context, it begs that Kosovo be looked at in a contemporary, realistic and pragmatic lens.
We also touched upon the worrying issues of security, peace and stability in the region, but also beyond, in Ukraine and Gaza. We found that our views on the risks and how to deal with them in the Western Balkans are the same, or substantially similar, to the Bosnian side. I had the opportunity to repeat to my Bosnian colleague and friend my full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
And finally, in May, Albania supported and co-sponsored the UN resolution for the “International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the Srebenica Genocide in 1995″. Our message is very clear, such an event should never be repeated again”, emphasized Minister Hasani.
