Prime Minister Rama was pleased to host today at a meeting in the hall of Maps, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, Philip Hammond. After the meeting, Prime Minister Rama and Secretary Hammond released the following media statements:

Prime Minister Rama: It is a pleasure to welcome the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, or foreign minister of Great Britain, on a special visit, and also with the pleasure for having the opportunity to discuss on increasingly common challenges against the barbarism of extremism in all of its threatening forms, as a threat to our civilization and everything has been achieved by the big family of the democratic world with which Albania not only feels connected spiritually and morally, but is also connected in the aspiration to become an integral part of it. It is also a pleasure to have the opportunity to share together the conviction that today more than ever, Europe needs the Balkans just as the Balkans needs Europe. Between Europe and the Balkans, and especially that part of the Balkans that is still outside the European Union, it is time to strengthen even more the relationship of cooperation in every field and to walk hand in hand, so that the entire Balkans will be part of the European Union as soon as possible.

Secretary Philip Hammond: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for taking the time and receive me here today. It is a great pleasure to visit Tirana. This is my first visit to Tirana.

We have an excellent bilateral relation, strong enough cooperation, especially in internal affairs in this portfolio, in the joint fight against crime, a joint struggle against illegal migration, smuggling of drugs, as well as human trafficking. Therefore, I would like to mention and congratulate you on the efforts you have made as a government and as ministry to carry out reforms that are very important developments in this field. In addition, we have an excellent security, defense and military cooperation. Albania is a very good NATO partner, and in the past years we have started to work together and organized joint military exercises even here in Albania. We look forward to developing further cooperation in the future, and also for you to modernize your army and raise your capacity as part of the NATO family.

The UK has always supported strongly the expansion of the European Union, and I support strongly what you said about the need of the Balkans to move towards Europe while sharing values and aspirations of the European Union. The program of reforms that you are developing, as an essential step in this journey that brings great benefits to Albania, in addition to allowing the country to move forward on its own European path, especially with regard to the reform in the justice system, which I know is difficult, but absolutely essential to create the climate of the rule of law which will be the basis of investments in the Albanian economy, and which in fact underlies our shared values in the EU, in order to move forward.

Let’s continue together strengthening Albania’s path towards Europe, both on a bilateral basis and through the European Union, for we look forward to doing this and we will provide every support and encouragement so that you can continue this journey.

Thanks!