DPM Abazović meets with President of Albania Ilir Meta

Overall bilateral relations in the Balkans should be given new energy and additional impetus, with a completely different approach, free from the burden of the past, said Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović after a meeting with President of the Republic of Albania Ilir Meta.

DPM Abazović stated that the two countries are characterized by a good neighbourly policy, oriented towards the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

In that sense, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that Montenegro, as the country that has advanced the most in the EU negotiation process, is ready to provide expert, technical and any other type of assistance to Albania in achieving the goals from the European agenda.

Abazović pointed out that Montenegro's efforts are aimed at further progress in the field of rule of law, as the backbone of the negotiation chapter, and that certain results have been achieved in that sense, but that greater determination of all competent institutions is needed in the coming period. Abazović expressed great satisfaction with the current tourist season, emphasising that it exceeds all expectations.

President of Albania Ilir Meta stated that the construction of the border crossing Krajina - Zoganj would connect the two areas and open many possibilities for the valorisation of Skadar Lake and its hinterland.

The two officials agreed that close and intensive cooperation is of great importance for the implementation of large infrastructure projects of the Ionian-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (IAP) and the Adriatic-Ionian motorway, but also smaller ones, such as the construction of the bridge on Bojana, between Štoj and Velipoje, as well as the border crossing in the Cijevna valley. Furthermore, the implementation of these projects would bring multiple benefits to the two countries, both in terms of guaranteeing energy security, financial benefits and better transport connections and the flow of people and goods to attractive tourist destinations.