Skopje, 13 November 2024 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi met with Albanian counterpart Elisa Spiropali and country's President Bajram Begaj during his visit to Tirana on Wednesday.

The meeting with Speaker Spiropali highlighted the excellent and dynamic cooperation between the two countries, with numerous visits on all levels as an indicator and example of the quality cooperation between the countries, the Parliament said in a press release.

Speaker Gashi congratulated Albania for starting the EU accession negotiations and voiced expectation that both countries will continue to further cooperate on the European integration agenda. The topic of enlargement as one of the Union's best policies was also discussed, as a geostrategic need and long-term investment for the entire Europe in political, security, and economic terms.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, which has numerous potentials, both Speakers noted the possibility for greater cooperation between the European affairs committees and national councils for European integration, in view of the common interest in the EU integration process.

Interlocutors said that the only path to rapid economic advancement of the area is the regional market and joint integration in it, since it is natural for good economic relations to be accompanied by good political relation for regional progress.

Speaker Gashi also met with Albanian President Bajram Begaj, discussing regional challenges, modalities of bilateral cooperation, utilizing potentials of enhanced economic cooperation, including cultural and tourist exchange.

The importance of the Albanian political factor in the Republic of North Macedonia was also underlined, including Albania's constructive policy for regional development and plan for joint EU integration.

As NATO allies, interlocutors pointed out that the two countries implement peaceful policies for the good of the entire Western Balkan region. They also addressed the need of strengthened and dynamic cooperation as response to various real threats, considering that the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania are part of NATO's eastern wing.

Gashi and Begaj considered possibilities of utilizing European funds for infrastructure projects, for the benefit of the citizens in both countries, reads the press release. ssh/ik/

Photo: Parliament