Foreign Minister Zaharieva: “We Are Ready to Help Albania with Expertise in EU Negotiations”
24 January 2019 News
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva received the newly appointed Albanian Ambassador to Bulgaria Donika Hoxha for what was their first meeting.
“I am happy to see more women ambassadors in Bulgaria,” the Minister said in her remarks to the Ambassador Hoxha and wished her a successful term. “Our two countries maintain excellent contacts,” Minister Zaharieva said adding that political consultations between the two ministries are expected to be held shortly to discuss the issue of Albania’s European integration, among other issues. “They can be complemented by a business forum because trade, investment and tourism still lag behind the level we want and can achieve,” she said.
The chief Bulgarian diplomat stressed that her country remains closely committed to Albania's European integration. “Quite a lot of work remains to be done and it should be done jointly: we work with our partners in the EU and you show results in reforms.”
Zaharieva noted that when Albania begins EU accession negotiations, Bulgaria is ready to send experts to various ministries to provide on-the-spot assistance during the negotiating process. “In this way you can capitalize on the experience of a country such as Bulgaria which has walked this road fairly recently and has built up quite a lot of capacity.”
Ambassador Hoxha thanked for Bulgaria’s commitment to Albania’s European perspective.