Press release
LJUBLJANA/TIRANA, 15 March 2022 – Former Albanian President and Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha received Director of International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES[1]) Prof. Dr. Zijad Bećirović. They discussed the cureent situation in Albania, region and the world in the light of the Ukrainian crises.
Former President of Albania Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha presented current situation in Albania, the region and the country's position in international relations. He emphasized the importance of Albania's EU membership, and in particular the clear EU message that the countries of the Western Balkans will be accepted into full EU membership and not into a privileged or any other form of partnership. President Dr. Berisha emphasized the importance of ensuring lasting peace and long-term stability in the current situation, which should ensure the economic prosperity of countries and global stability.
Director of IFIMES Dr. Bećirović thanked the president dr. Berisha for the presentation of the current situation in Albania, in the region and the position of Albania in international relations. He emphasized the key role of dr. Berisha in the process of the democratic changes in Albania 30 years ago and on Albania's full membership in NATO, which proved to be a particularly important and historic move in light of the current Ukrainian crisis. Dr. Berisha is also credited for Albania's membership in the Council of Europe, visa liberalization and the signing of Albania's Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.
At the end of the conversation, the director of IFIMES, dr. Bećirović invited the president dr. Berisha to write a guest view for the international scientific journal European Perspectives, in which he will present his views on the process of Albania's accession to the EU, which dr. Berisha gladly accepted. In the coming period, the IFIMES International Institute will strengthen its activities in Albania in support of its European path and in the process of re-democratization.
Ljubljana/Tirana, 15 March 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.
