On 2 October, President Edgars Rinkēvičs paid an official visit to Tirana, the capital of Albania, where he met with the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj. The discussions focused primarily on Albania’s integration into the European Union, regional security issues, the situation in the Western Balkans, and support for Ukraine.
“Although the Baltic and Adriatic Seas are separated by a great distance, Latvia and Albania are united by close cooperation and common European goals. Latvia fully supports Albania’s path towards EU membership – we know that this process is not easy, but it is worth it. We are ready to share our experience,” said President Rinkēvičs.
The President of Latvia thanked Albania for the presence of its troops in the NATO multinational brigade in Latvia and emphasized Latvia’s significant contribution to the international mission in Kosovo: “Albania’s contribution is a strong signal of our unity. Today, as we face increasingly complex hybrid threats, this solidarity is particularly important. Freedom and security can never be taken for granted. By participating with its National Armed Forces personnel in the NATO-led international operation in Kosovo, Latvia is contributing to strengthening security and stability in the wider Western Balkans region.”
During his official visit to Tirana, President Rinkēvičs is also scheduled to meet with other senior Albanian officials.
