Newly appointed Swiss Ambassador Siri Walt presented today the letters of credence to President Begaj
The new Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Albania, Siri Walt, officially presented her Letters of Credence to President Bajram Begaj today, marking the formal commencement of her diplomatic mandate in Albania.
During the credential ceremony at the Office of the President of the Republic of Albania, Ambassador Walt conveyed the greetings of the Swiss Federal Council and reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to its longstanding partnership with Albania. She underscored the excellent relations between the two countries, which have continued to grow stronger and closer in the past two decades.
President Begaj expressed his gratitude for Switzerland’s continued support for the democratic, economic and social development processes of Albania, as well as for its contribution to strengthening institutions and local governance through development cooperation programmes and technical assistance.
The Head of State particularly appreciated the investments of the Swiss government in rural areas. “We have wonderful people and nature. Investments in these areas in increasing the quality of life are an investment that we make for the younger generations. Also, maintaining the positive trend that Albania has in tourism is greatly helped by these investments”, said the President.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Walt welcomed the opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation between Switzerland and Albania.
“Switzerland and Albania enjoy a relationship built on mutual respect, close cooperation, and a shared commitment to democratic values. I am honoured to take up my duties at a moment when this partnership continues to deepen, and I wish to reaffirm, on behalf of the Federal Council, Switzerland’s steadfast commitment to strengthening these ties in the years ahead”, Ambassador Walt said.
Ambassador Walt reiterated Switzerland’s continued support for Albania’s European integration efforts and highlighted the recently launched Swiss Cooperation Programme 2026-2028, which confirms Switzerland’s long-term engagement in Albania’s development. The programme focuses on strengthening good governance, promoting sustainable economic development and social inclusion, and improving public services and infrastructure.
Switzerland and Albania enjoy close and steadily growing relations. Switzerland has been a development partner of Albania since 1992 and has contributed approximately EUR 500 million over the past three decades to support areas such as democratic governance, vocational education and training, economic development and health.
Ambassador Walt succeeds Ambassador Ruth Huber, who completed her mandate in August 2026 after serving as Switzerland’s Ambassador to Albania for four years.
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