FM Bushati: Moscow aims to slow Balkans’ EU integration path

23/03/2017 00:00

It is very important the United States deepen their commitment in the Balkans, a region faced with terrorist threat and Russia’s efforts to increase its influence. Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said in an interview at the Atlantic Council that the Balkans that Russia is trying to put obstacles on the Balkans’ countries path to NATO and EU membership.

He added the EU integration process has to be achieved by engaging in different reforms, which for the moment, in Albania, are being hampered by the Democratic Party. “It is a paradox seeing a political party positioning itself on the opposite side of people’s will”, Bushati said in the “New Atlanticist”.

He also requested the United States and European Union to increase their engagement in Albania focusing on reforms of security, judiciary and economic development. EU is seen as an attraction pole from the European countries who aim to become part of the union, but profits can be mutual, he added.

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