Deputy PM Niko Peleshi received today Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Federica Mogherini.

Deputy Prime Minister considered the visit of the Italian Minister Foreign Affairs as an excellent indicator of relations and strategic partnership between our countries.

He thanked Ms. Mogherini on behalf of the Albanian government for the continuing support Italy gas given Albania in all areas, especially in the European integration process and for lobbying in favor of candidate status for Albania. In this context, he said that the Italian Presidency of the EU is an opportunity for Albania’s further rapprochement with the EU and EU policies focus on Albania and the region.

The conversation focused also on Albania’s efforts and the personal commitment of Prime Minister Edi Rama to deepen cooperation with neighboring countries through joint investment projects and cooperation in view of regional economic integration.

Deputy PM informed Ms. Mogherini on the achievements of the first 300 days by the government and on important reforms undertaken especially in the field of ​​rule of law and improvement of the climate for foreign businesses and investors.

Minster Mogherini praised the reforms and achievements of the Albanian government and said that the granting of candidate status to Albania was in fact a victory for Italy. She expressed the readiness of the Italian Government to deepen cooperation in all fields and to further intensify economic relations between the two countries. Minister Mogherini thanked Deputy PM Peleshi for his role in the negotiation and signing of the Protocol of Cooperation for Development for the years 2014 – 2016, for an amount of 82 million Euros.

She praised Albania’s role in the region as a stabilizing factor and expressed her conviction that regional cooperation initiatives will have ongoing support from Italy.