Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, received Enkeleda Mërkuri, the new Ambassador of Albania, who presented the copies of her credentials in Bratislava today. The topics of the welcoming discussion included Slovak-Albanian relations, Albania’s European integration, SR’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.

Minister Lajčák highlighted the amicable bilateral relations of the two countries and reminded that Albania now is one of the three priority countries within the Western Balkan region that receive assistance from Slovakia in the form of its transformation-related experience. He also reiterated Slovakia’s support for Albania’s integration ambitions and said that the enlargement policy will rank among the core areas Slovakia wants to focus on during its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister Lajčák emphasized at the same time that it is important for Albania on its way to the EU to keep progressing in the needed reforms and to adopt and implement them to make their specific outcomes visible to the citizens. In that context the European Union will dedicate utmost attention to adoption of legislation concerning the overall reform of the system of justice.

In the meeting with Ambassador Mërkuri, Minister Lajčák also appreciated the constructive role that Albania is playing to strengthen good neighborly relations and regional cooperation.