Moldova conveys chairmanship of Central European Initiative to Albania

Chisinau, 22 November /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova on 21-22 November hosted the annual meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states. Moldova held the CEI’s chairmanship during this year and conveyed it to Albania today.    

Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Albania Besart Kadia and Secretary General of the Central European Initiative Roberto Antonione held a news conference, during which they reviewed the achievements for this year, as well as the priorities for the next period.       

The Moldovan diplomacy head said that the meeting’s principal subject had been focused on the European integration. ‘’Despite the difficult situation, shadowed by the war from Ukraine, we unanimously found out, also through the light of this forum, that the European integration is the only viable solution for preserving the security and economic well-being in the region. The key position of our chairmanship within CEI was incontestable – the European integration must stay the principal political priority of the states candidates. In the context, we welcomed the European Commission’s decision to recommend that the European Council starts the negotiations on accession with Moldova, Ukraine and Bosnia & Herzegovina, hoping that the European Council will approve the decision giving green light to the beginning of the negotiations with these states,’’ Popescu said.        

According to the Moldovan foreign affairs minister, the discussions at the meeting were focused on the coordination of the positions as to the ways the process of accession to the European Union is organized.  

„On the period of Moldova’s chairmanship, we have cooperated and coordinated along with the CEI member states and firmly supported the process of European integration of the states who want this,’’ the minister added.   

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Albania Besart Kadia thanked Moldova for cooperation, noting that Albania would continue the  policies backed by Moldova during the holding of the CEI chairmanship.   

The cooperation format which was at the basis of CEI’s launch originates from 1989 and the Organization’s major goal is the consolidation of the relations between those 17 member states from the Central, Southern and Eastern Europe, with emphasis put on the backing of the European integration way of the countries non-EU members through the transfer of knowledge and experience with the EU member states from this region.   

Moldova became CEI member on 8 November 1996.