Austria is raising its voice for opening of Albania's EU accession negotiations

Nga: Genc Mlloja

Vienna's top envoy to Tirana, Johann Sattler, exclusively for ADN

"In order for Albania to join the EU and to play an important role in the stabilisation and prosperity of the Balkan Peninsula, it needs not just the support and good will of partner countries. It needs also to continue on a steady pace with its reforms and modernization. I am sure that not everything can happen overnight, but you have the potential to fight crime, to implement the justice reform, to modernize the state, to fight poverty, to create the circumstances for building a stable future for the citizens. For Austria culture is an important part for our foreign policy - every year we choose a country which is important for Austria’s foreign relations and organize the so called “cultural years”. The fact that Albania is in the focus of the Austrian foreign policy this year is not random. We believe that culture has the power not only to unite people, but also to move things forward," has said the Austrian Ambassador to Albania, Johann Sattler. 

 

Giving details on what the Cultural Year Austria-Albania 2018 will offer Austrians and Albania, the Ambassador told Albanian Daily News that about 100 events like concerts, theatre and dance performances as well as film screenings, scientific conferences exhibitions and media projects will take place in both countries in this framework, and 30 of them are scheduled to be held in Austria, mostly in Vienna.

Mr. Sattler considered as a highlight of the year the Viennese Ball which will be held on the 21st of April in Tirana. "It will be a unique event organized under the patronage of the City of Vienna and the City of Tirana. A renowned Viennese conductor, the RTSH orchestra, opera, singers, dancers, and many more surprises will contribute to a glamorous, delightful and hopefully unforgettable night," he said full of enthusiasm. 

In the meantime, the Ambassador said that Austria has always considered Albania a key country for the stabilisation and prosperity of the Balkan Peninsula advocating for Albania’s progress on the EU path. "In this context, we are still raising our voice for the opening the EU accession negotiations with Albania and we hope to achieve this important step, maybe even in the second half of 2018, during the Austrian Presidency of the European Union, which would be a nice symbolic coincidence underlining our close relationship," said Austria's top envoy to Tirana Johann Sattler in his interview for AND.