Co-operation with Mediterranean region is an objective necessity, says Albanian Foreign Minister Cakaj opening OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Tirana

TIRANA, 24 October 2019 – While Albania looks to Europe for its future, our history, geography and economy are rooted in the Mediterranean region, stated today in Tirana Albania’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Gent Cakaj, while opening 2019 OSCE Mediterranean Conference.

“We can make a difference within the Mediterranean Partnership only if we work together,” said Cakaj. “Our co-operation with the Mediterranean region is not a matter of choice anymore: it is an objective necessity.”

During the two-day event dedicated to achievements, challenges and future opportunities for the OSCE Mediterranean Partnership, discussions focus on countering terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism; youth participation and engagement; and economic connectivity.

“Security in Europe as a whole is inextricably linked to security in the Mediterranean area. The importance of this relationship is more than evident in the fields of trade, energy, migration and fight against terrorism,” said Cakaj.

Cakaj stressed that co-operation with the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation is essential to better ensure a safe environment for our countries’ citizens and generating prosperity across our entire region.

“This conviction has been governing the Mediterranean Contact Group throughout the past 25 years,” he said. “Albania’s goal this year, while chairing the Contact Group, and certainly during the 2020 Albanian OSCE Chairmanship, is to keep the Mediterranean high on the OSCE agenda and strengthen a strategic partnership with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.”

Cakaj said that the security of Europe and the Mediterranean requires smarter investments in the economy and human capital. “Generating economic growth and developing human resources is essential in making the Mediterranean region more prosperous. We will spare no effort in working towards this objective,” he said.

Acting Foreign Minister Cakaj, Slovak State Secretary Lukas Parižek, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of Italy Marina Sereni and Secretary General of the Union for Mediterranean Nasser Kamel opened the 2019 Mediterranean Conference.

The second day of the conference will be dedicated to the role of connectivity, digitalization, sustainable development and economic growth in advancing common security in the Mediterranean.

Acting Foreign Minister Cakaj and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger will give closing remarks tomorrow.