The President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, received his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, with high state honors on Thursday.

At the joint press conference, Begaj, among other things, thanked the Italian president for the support that the Italian state has given to Kosovo in matters of security, visa liberalization, membership in the Council of Europe and dialogue with Serbia.

The latter, according to him, should result in mutual recognition and membership of Kosovo in the UN and the EU.

"We value the presence of KFOR in Kosovo as very important for the stability of the region, as a presence that reflects peace and stability.

I thanked President Mattarella for the support that the Italian state has given to Kosovo and I emphasized the importance of continuing this support, especially for security issues, visa liberalization, Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe and the continuation of the dialogue with Serbia.

Albania supports the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue and believes that the solution formula expressed by President Biden and Chancellor Scholz, as a 'comprehensive agreement for the normalization of relations', resulting in mutual recognition and Kosovo's membership in the UN and the EU, is the right solution for guaranteed stable peace in the Balkans", he said, reports KP.

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While the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, said that without the countries of the Western Balkans, the European Union is not complete.

"We awaited with great pleasure the achievement of the historic journey for the opening of the negotiations of Albania.

The EU, with a little delay, managed to pass and realize the promise given to the Albanians.

Countries like Italy have supported the opening of Albania's negotiations with the EU and we hope that this will go quickly with EU membership... We know very well that Albania's future is in the EU.

Without the countries of the Western Balkans, the EU is not complete," said Mattarella.