REL: Rama says that Albania will host the NATO summit in 2027

The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said on Monday that in 2027 Albania will welcome the NATO summit. Rama made these comments during the ambassadors' conference, which is being held in Tirana. Rama told the ambassadors that Albanian diplomacy has already entered a new dynamic.

"Next year we will be the country that will welcome the leaders of 44 European countries - from Great Britain to Ukraine or from Sweden, Norway to Turkey - at the summit of the European Political Community. In 2027, we will have the opportunity to host the NATO summit. Things that could not even be imagined years ago - for Albania to become a point of reference and to be entrusted with such roles", declared Rama.

Radio Free Europe requested comments from NATO regarding Rama's announcement, but did not receive a response.

This year's NATO summit was held from July 9 to 11 in Washington.

Prime Minister Rama said that the objective of the Government he leads is that in 2030, Albania should be ready to sit at the EU table. He emphasized that "for this reason, the role of ambassadors is very important and should be raised to a new level".

As for Albania's relations with the countries of the region, Rama said that the Government's vision has become clear, which aims to look to the future and not to return to the problems of the past.

"Reading the future with the eyes of the past is not ours. This is the approach and the key point, on which we build relations and interactions with the region. We must do more with Italy, Turkey and Greece. We must open them soon the doors of the Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina", said Prime Minister Rama.

Regarding the relations with Kosovo, Rama said that it is Albania's duty to support "the final formation of the international subjectivity of Kosovo".

The Head of the Albanian Government asked the ambassadors to pay more attention to economic diplomacy. For this reason, he requested that commercial and business relations not only focus on the countries of the European Union, but also expand with the United Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, etc.

Regarding the other two countries, Indonesia and the Philippines, Prime Minister Rama said that all EU countries are looking for labor force, so Albania will do the same.

The three-day conference "Tirana Diplo 2024" is taking place at a time when the Albanian Government is preparing changes to the law on foreign service. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, said that the changes are in line with the challenges of Albanian diplomacy.

Ambassadors and consuls of Albania in the world take part in the conference. Also present is the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon, also Foreign Minister. REL