TIRANA, April 26 – The Speaker of the Assembly, Lindita Nikolla, received on Wednesday a delegation of the friendship group with Albania of the Senate of France, composed of senators Pierre Ouzoulias, the chairman of the Friendship Group, and members Vivette Lopez, Lucien Stanzione and Jean -Michel Arnaud.
Nikolla appreciated the very good relations between Albania and France and the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, signed in March 2017.
“France has strategic importance for Albania and the region. We have relied on the support of France in Albania’s European journey and we expect this support to continue during the negotiations. We welcome the French expertise for the continuation of reforms and the progress of membership negotiations. Albania and France are close partners in NATO and the Security Council of the United Nations contributing to peace and security,” she said.
During the meeting, the intensification of parliamentary cooperation, the expansion of bilateral cooperation, cooperation in the International Organization of Francophonie, etc. were discussed.
Nikolla repeated Albania’s request for France’s support for Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, especially after the approval of Kosovo’s application by the Council of Ministers on April 24 and forwarding the request for membership to the Parliamentary Assembly.
The Chairman of the Friendship Group, Pierre Ouzoulias, and the senators present at the meeting stated that France will continue to strongly support Albania’s membership in the EU and the Senate will promote and support bilateral cooperation for strengthening the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, cooperation in the field of fiscal policies, agriculture, basic vital services, decentralized cooperation, etc. /Argumentum.al
