site.btaAlbania Deeply Committed to Regional Security, Says Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali

Albania is deeply committed to regional security issues, said Thursday Albanian Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali at meeting with National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, part of her official visit to Bulgaria.

"In this context, we have entered into a trilateral cooperation with Kosovo and Croatia, which we hope Bulgaria will join in the future. Our aim is to respond effectively to security challenges, to strengthen defense capabilities, and to ensure peace in a situation that is delicate and influenced by many difficult international developments," Spiropali noted. She added that Albania has proven to be a guarantor and is working toward the establishment of lasting peace.

Spiropali emphasized that the two countries have historically enjoyed very good relations and hoped that to continue in the future.

"We understand Bulgaria's correct and very reasonable position that each country should move toward European integration based on its own achievements and the fulfillment of set criteria. We deeply appreciate this approach and understand that it is also influenced by geopolitical circumstances, which in some cases allow a country to meet these criteria more quickly or more slowly. We have already opened 24 of the 31 chapters of the pre-accession framework. We hope to close them successfully by the end of the year and to complete the remaining ones by around 2027," the Albanian Parliament Speaker added.

She expressed the view that the excellent high-level political contacts should also be translated into economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the field of tourism.

Kiselova and Spiropali will participate in a forum organized by PanEuropa Bulgaria in Sofia's Central Military Club on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has already met with the Albanian Parliament Speaker. A meeting with President Rumen Radev is also scheduled.