On the first day of the State visit to the Republic of Albania, President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca held a series of bilateral meetings with the country’s highest authorities.
The first bilateral meeting was with President of the Republic of Albania, Bujar Nishani. During this meeting various areas of collaboration have been mentioned by both Presidents.
Addressing a joint press conference with Mr Nishani, the President of Malta described the meetings held today as “a testimony to the work and commitment of both sides to strengthen their engagement further”.
With reference to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the ministers for foreign affairs of both countries, the Maltese President said that this too is “further proof of the consolidation of the bilateral relations between our two countries, and is a further demonstration of Malta’s will to help Albania in its EU accession process”, as she reiterated Malta’s support for the Albanian aspirations to become part of the European Union.
The President of Malta is certain “that this support will not only continue, but Malta will be further extending all its European integration experience to Albania, to assist in the integration process. Malta is prepared to offer the necessary technical assistance to Albania in its institution and capacity building”.
As part of her official programme during the State Visit at the Republic of Albania, the President of Malta will also be addressing the Albanian-Maltese Economic Forum. Whilst noting that both countries have the potential to expand further areas of cooperation which could be of mutual benefit to both peoples, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca described the Albanian-Maltese Economic Forum as a valid platform for more solid economic exchanges between Malta and Albania and proposed further follow-up by means of an exchange of Trade Delegations.
The President commended the fact that the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies in Malta as well as the International Maritime Law Institute has already hosted Albanian nationals and looks forward to further participation by other Albanian students in the future. The Maltese President was also pleased about the consistent presence of Maltese Nationals in Albania operating in the educational and voluntary field including SOS Malta and Preca College.
Upon concluding, the President remarked that Malta would like to revive the agreement which Malta and Albania have on inter-country adoptions, so that Albanian children to be matched with Maltese couples for adoption.