The President of the Republic, Ilir Meta received in a meeting the High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini.

President Meta welcomed the positive recommendation of the European Commission to open membership negotiations with Albania in assessing Albania’s great and overarching efforts in its irreversible European integration process. Recognizing the contributions of all the local actors who have steadily built up the European trajectory of Albania, President Meta also conveyed the gratitude for the High Representative Mogherini and the European Commission for the unremitting support and assistance they have provided to Albanians.

The head of state stressed that this recommendation of strategic importance for the country and the region should serve as the catalyst for a more consolidated unity and focus of work on deepening key country reforms. The President noted that all those who feel part of this common success should also bear their share of responsibility for more work in the future, while maintaining the focus for a positive decision during the Council meeting in June.

President Meta also praised the fact that the positive recommendation for Macedonia is also a step of strategic importance for regional stability and security, congratulating the decision on opening accession negotiations with this important regional partner resolutely and without delay.

Recognizing the High Representative also with other developments in the region, President Meta emphasized that after the ratification of the Demarcation Agreement with Montenegro and progress in the implementation of the SAA, Kosovo should get visa liberalization as soon as possible and move forward in its European integration process.

The president expressed the conviction that progress in these processes for all Western Balkan countries will create a more positive climate between the countries of the region, necessary to advance on other, still unsettled, issues./tvklan.al