Albania’s foreign policy aims at opening Albania to the world by promoting regional and international partnerships. At a meeting of foreign ministers of Adriatic Charter countries, held in New York City, in September 2011, Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmond Haxhinasto commented, “The Adriatic Charter is an important element in helping countries to prepare for NATO membership and we would like to see more countries of the region joining the group. It is very important that an open door policy be maintained for all the countries in the region.” Albania is serving as the president of the Adriatic Charter in 2011.
Adriatic Charter countries develop joint activities and cooperate closely for a range of local and regional issues, including projects related to security. Edmond Haxhinasto says, “The differences that may exist between the countries in the region should be viewed from the perspective that we all share a common future – a future which we should work together for to make sure that it will be the one involving more stability, cooperation, development and progress.”
Preparing for EU membership
Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also stepping up its cooperation with European groups as part of the process of preparing Albania for EU membership. Edmond Haxhinasto recently met with a delegation of representatives from the Council of Europe and members of the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities; at this meeting the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Albania is an excellent example of a country which shows respect to diverse minorities, religions and ethnic groups in the region and beyond. “Respect for minorities is a fundamental precept of Albania’s domestic and foreign policies,” he added.
Albania is involved in a number of partnerships and joint projects with its neighbours in the Balkans region and beyond. Edmond Haxhinasto, who has recently met with his counterpart from China as well as with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, says that Albania aims to participate in more regional and international projects in the future. He explains, “The spirit that should guide us should be all inclusive, a matter of peoples and societies, and not an issue of national boundaries. Regional and international initiatives are designed to bring people closer – politicians, societies, cultures. Respecting this fundamental principle is the basic reason for such initiatives. It is also essential in establishing a united Europe.”
