<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>“Albania strongly supports the decisions of the European Council of December 2023, which have given a new impetus to geopolitics and security, advancing the accession negotiations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the European path of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia,” Albanian Ambassador Entela Gjika said during the reception she hosted last Thursday to commemorate the 112th anniversary of the country's independence.</strong></h4> In the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ambassador stressed that “<strong>the only answer to these challenges must be to strengthen strategic cooperation between us, the countries of the Western Balkans and with the EU</strong>, in matters of security, foreign policy, rule of law and economic development.” And this includes a clear commitment to the country's integration into the European Union, once it is already a member of NATO. To this end, Entela Gjika assured that, after obtaining candidate status in 2014, <strong>Albania undertook a series of reforms that “have entailed a profound transformation of our society and our economy.</strong>” “That path,” he admitted, ‘has been hard and challenging’ but ”we have built a democratic society and we are proud of it.” <strong>“For Albania, EU integration is not just an aspiration, but the only future we want to belong to,”</strong> reiterated the ambassador, who also welcomed the recent announcement by the Hungarian Presidency that the EU Council will begin work to prepare for the next IGC (Intergovernmental Conference) with Albania. At the same time, the <strong>Albanian economy is “growing and diversifying”, with an annual increase in GDP that has allowed it to double in the last 4 years</strong> and that forecasts an increase of 3.5% in 2025, which the ambassador took advantage of to showcase Albania's competitive advantages for investors. As an example, she cited <strong>Meliá Hotels, “which, with 20 contracts signed, has driven a rapid expansion of joint investments with Albanian companies”.</strong> She also expressed satisfaction with the <strong>recent inauguration of the UNED headquarters</strong> - “one of the most prestigious universities in Spain,” he said - in Gjirokastra, in southern Albania. <strong>“Our political relations with Spain,” Entela Gjika concluded, ”have also experienced a significant increase,</strong> with the exchange of high-level visits, strong cooperation between our legal institutions, and cooperation in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.” Three renowned Albanian chefs, <strong>Sokol Prenga, Bujar Veshi </strong>and <strong>Oltion Veshi,</strong> were present at the reception, along with the young Spanish winner of the 2014 Masterchef competition on Albanian television, <strong>Francisco Arriola Cortés.</strong> [caption id="attachment_102280" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102280 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bulgaria-Turquia-Hungria-y-Moldavia-ok-.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Left to right: Ambassadors of Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary and Moldova.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_102283" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102283 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Irlanda-Eslovaquia-y-Luxemburgo-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Right to left: the ambassadors of Luxembourg, Slovakia and Ireland, accompanied by his husband.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_102285" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102285 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Finlandia-y-Bosnia-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> Ambassador of Finland (left), together with her counterpart of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_102287" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102287 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Grecia-y-Bulgaria-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> The ambassadors of Greece (left) and Bulgaria.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_102289" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102289 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Turquia-Montenegro-y-Rumania-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> The First Counselor of the Turkish Embassy, Nur Alkis, with the Chargés d'Affaires of Montenegro, Milica Durickovic, and Romania, Raluca Mihaila.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_102291" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102291 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Esquivias-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> The Albanian ambassador with Esquivias councilman of Culture, Jonathan Truchado, and the secretary of the City Council, Susana García.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_102295" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-102295 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Con-chefs-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> Ambassador Entela Gjika, accompanied by the 2014 Albanian Masterchef winner, Francisco Arriola Cortés (in black jacket) and chefs Sokol Prenga, Bujar Veshi and Oltion Veshi.[/caption]
