Italy: Don’t lose time for negotiations

TCH: This is your first time in Albania as representative of the Italian diplomacy, and you find our country with the EU candidate status. What will be the contribution of Italy, known as a defending lawyer of Albania in the integration path, and how long do you think it will take to Albania for opening the negotiations?

Federica Mogherini: I am happy that Albania received the candidate status. It is an excellent result not only for your country, but also for ours, because we have worked together, believed together and this is a good start. We need to get to work for the other part now. There is still a lot of work ahead, and I believe that Albania is ready for these obligations, the government and the Albanian people alike. Italy is also ready to help Albania in this path.

TCH: The lack of political dialogue has often penalized Albania. What is the message that you left to the Albania politicians in the meetings you had here in Tirana? Did the Albanian politics gain the right maturity to understand the need of cooperation?

Federica Mogherini: It should be clear that reforms are needed to join the EU, but it is also necessary that reforms are needed to be done on behalf of the country and the citizens, for improving their lives. As Italian, I know how difficult political dialogue is. We have had episodes in our history with very harsh debates. But it is on behalf of everyone, the government and the opposition alike, to cooperate for the reforms for the interest of the citizens. Sometimes we make a mistake and address some things to Brussels. I think that the citizens are those who want us to work together for the reforms, first of all for improving their conditions, their economy and the institutions. Political dialogue is an institutional obligation.

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