LJUBLJANA/SKOPJE, 12 January 2022 – Director of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES[1]) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zijad Bećirović today exchanged views with the President of the Republic of Albania Ilir Meta about current events in Albania, the region and the world.
The President of Albania Ilir Meta presented the current events in Albania, the role of Albania in international relations, and he stressed the importance of regional cooperation. In his opinion, the start of negotiations between Albania and North Macedonia and the EU is especially important. He called for both countries to start EU membership negotiations at the same time. President Meta emphasized the importance of ensuring lasting peace and long-term stability, which is crucial for the prosperty of individual countries and the region as a whole.
IFIMES Director Bećirović thanked President Meta for presenting the current situation in Albania and for insight into Albania's position in international relations. According to him, it is especially important that we make additional efforts to ensure that the Western Balkans region does not lag behind the modern and developed world, and that many reforms are needed to achieve this. In the coming period, the IFIMES International Institute will strengthen its activities in Albania in support of that country on its European path.
At the end of the conversation, IFIMES Director Bećirović invited President Meta to give a lecture at the institute on current events in Albania and the need to reposition Albania in international relations, which President Meta gladly accepted. He also emphasized the possibility of organizing joint activities of the institute in Albania.
Ljubljana/Skopje, 12 January 2022
[1] IFIMES – International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has Special Consultative status at ECOSOC/UN, New York, since 2018
