Foreign relations of Albania
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Albanian foreign policy since its independence has maintained a policy of complementarism by trying to have friendly relations with all countries. Albania is a member of more than 48 different international organizations including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.,[1] the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and La Francophonie.
The main objectives of Albanian foreign policy are:
- Accession of Albania to the European Union
- International recognition of Kosovo
- The recognition of Expulsion of Cham Albanians[2]
- Helping the Albanians in Macedonia
- Helping the Albanians in Montenegro
- Helping the Albanians in southern Serbia
- Helping the Albanians in Greece
- Helping the Arbëreshë in Italy
- Helping Albanian diaspora
The main factors defining Albanian foreign policy consist of geopolitical location, population, economic crisis, and ties with Albanian diaspora throughout the world. Albania has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its Balkan neighbours, gaining access to European-Atlantic security institutions, and securing close ties with the United States. [citation needed]
On 14 January 2011, Albania signed a pact with Italy for a corporal foreign strategy.[3]
The government of Albania is very concerned with developments in neighboring Kosovo, particularly in the post-Dayton agreement period. Although the region is claimed by Serbia to be a Serbian province, Albania recognized Kosovo’s declaration of independence on 18 February 2008.
After the fall of the Albanian communist regime in 1991, relations between Greece and Albania became increasingly strained because of widespread allegations of mistreatment by Albanian authorities of the Greek ethnic minority in southern Albania and of the Albanian communities in northern Greece. A wave of Albanian illegal economic migrants to Greece exacerbated tensions. The crisis in Greek–Albanian relations reached its peak in late August 1994, when an Albanian court sentenced five members (a sixth member was added later) of the ethnic Greek political party Omonia to prison terms on charges of undermining the Albanian state. Greece responded by freezing all EU aid to Albania, and sealing its border with Albania. In December 1994, however, Greece began to permit limited EU aid to Albania, while Albania released two of the Omonia defendants and reduced the sentences of the remaining four. [citation needed]
There are still other impending issues in the relations between the two countries, regarding many Albanian workers in Greece who have not received legal papers despite promises by the Greek government. In 1996, the two countries signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship and discussed the issues of the status of Albanian refugees in Greece and education in the mother tongue for the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania.
Today, as result of very frequent high-level contacts between the governments and the parliaments, relations between the two countries are regarded as cordial. Greece is a staunch supporter of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Albania. Since Albania's NATO entry in May 2009, the Albanian-Greek relations have been developing on all fronts, and especially after the election victory of Edi Rama in 2013,[4] with the Albanian Chief of Foreign Policy, Ralf Gjoni, describing the diplomatic relations between two countries as "excellent". Greece today is Albania's most important European Union ally and NATO partner.[5] At the Albanian government’s request, about 250 Greek military personnel are stationed in Albania to assist with the training and restructuring of the Albanian Armed Forces, as part of the NATO programme. Big projects currently in running between the two countries include the touristic development of the Ionian coastline shared between the two countries, and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which helped boosting the relations of the two countries even further.
Tirana’s relations with the Republic of Macedonia remain friendly, despite occasional incidents involving ethnic Albanians there. Tirana has repeatedly encouraged the Albanian minority’s continued participation in its government.
During the 1990s, after the fall of communism, at the onset of democratic reforms, there were vast waves of illegal immigration from the Albanian ports to Italy. This strained relations between the countries somewhat as Italy had to avert a humanitarian crisis. The tensions reached a peak when an Italian coast guard ship allegedly rammed and sank an Albanian ship carrying 120–130, 75 of whom drowned, on 28 March 1997. [citation needed] Eventually the two countries began joint operations aimed at stopping illegal smuggling operations. Italy has also provided financial assistance to Albania to help its ailing economy.
Countries with diplomatic relations with Albania
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom
- The Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States
- Asia: Armenia, the People’s Republic of China, Pakistan, the State of Palestine, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
- Africa: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya, Morocco
- Australia and Oceania: Australia
International disputes
The Albanian government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks full recognition of the declared independence from Serbia; Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government.[citation needed] A handful of Albanian troops have participated in the US-led invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.[6] Albanian policy is very favorable to that of the United States and European Union.
Foreign aid
The $30 million Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF), launched in 1994, is actively making debt and equity investments in local businesses. [citation needed] AAEF is designed to harness private sector efforts to assist in the economic transformation. U.S. assistance priorities include promotion of agricultural development and a market economy, advancement of democratic institutions (including police training), and improvements in quality of life.
International organization participation
The Republic of Albania is member in these international organizations.[7]
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Foreign relations with other countries
Africa
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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See Albania–Algeria relations
Algeria is represented in Albania through its embassy in Athens, Greece. | |
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See Albania–Egypt relations | |
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See Albania–Libya relations
Albania was one of the first countries to recognize the National Transitional Council on 18 July 2011.[10][11][12]
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Americas
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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See Albania–Brazil relations | |
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See Albania–Canada relations | |
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See Albania–Mexico relations
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1922[15] | See Albania–United States relations
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Asia
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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18 February 1993 | See Albania-Armenia relations
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23 November 1949 | See Albania–People's Republic of China relations
People's Socialist Republic of Albania under Enver Hoxha, moved an annual resolution in the General Assembly to transfer China's seat at the United Nations from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China. On 25 October 1971, Resolution 2758, sponsored by Albania, was passed by the General Assembly, withdrawing recognition of the ROC as the legitimate government of China, and recognizing the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China. Albania was the fist country to recognize the People's Republic China. Albania and People's Republic China established diplomatic relations on 23 November 1949.[16] |
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8 July 1993[17] | See Albania–Georgia relations |
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1956[18] | See Albania–India relations
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See Albania–Iran relations
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20 August 1991 | See Albania–Israel relations
Albania had recognized the State of Israel on 16 April 1949 by a telegram of Albanian Prime Minister Enver Hoxha.[19] Albania and Israel established diplomatic relations on 20 August 1991.[20] |
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See Albania–Japan relations
Albania and Japan resumed established diplomatic relations in March 1981.[22] | |
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See Albania–Kuwait relations
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See Albania–Malaysia relations
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24 May 1949[24] | See Albania–Mongolia relations
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In December 2006, Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Anton Gurakqui visited Pakistan to hold bilateral consultation with Pakistani political leadership. Pakistan also offers training facilities to young Albanian bureaucrats in the field of banking, finance, management and diplomacy.[25] |
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1990 | See Albania–Palestine relations
Albania had previously recognized the State of Palestine as a state since 1988. Albania and the State of Palestine established diplomatic relations in 1990.
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See Albania–Qatar relations | |
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See Albania–Saudi Arabia relations | |
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1948 11 29[26] | See Foreign relations of North Korea |
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22 August 1991[27] | See Albania–South Korea relations South Korea–Albania relations Albanian–South Korean relations South Korean–Albanian relations
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See Albania–United Arab Emirates relations
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Europe
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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See Albania-Andorra relations | |
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See Albania–Austria relations
Austria-Hungary supported Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912. | |
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See Albania–Azerbaijan relations | |
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See Albania–Belarus relations | |
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See Albania–Belgium relations
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See See Albania–Bulgaria relations | |
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28 December 1992 | See Albania-Bosnia and Herzegovina relations |
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25 August 1992 | See Albania–Croatia relations
Albania had recognized Croatia on 21 January 1992. Albania and Croatia established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1992.[30] In April 2009, both countries became full members of NATO at an event which both Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader attended. Also that year, the two countries decided to build a joint Nuclear Power Plant on the Albanian border with Montenegro. This decision was greeted warily by the government of Montenegro, which is worried about the plant's environmental impact. The two have a history of defense pacts, and overall theirs is a good relationship. Arbanasi (group) |
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See Albania–Cyprus relations | |
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See Albania–Czech Republic relations
The multi-national Communist armed forces’ sole joint action was the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. All member countries, with the exception of the People's Republic of Albania and the Socialist Republic of Romania participated in the invasion. Albania formally withdrew form the Warsaw Pact in 1968 over the matter.[31] | |
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1 May 1970[32] | See Albania–Denmark relations
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1 January 1992 | |
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See Albania-France relations
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8 July 1993[17] | See Albania–Georgia relations |
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See Albania-Germany relations | |
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de facto in 1971[35][36] de juro 21 March 1996 |
See Albania-Greece relations
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7 September 1991[37] | See Albania-Holy See relations
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Austria-Hungary supported Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912. | |
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1912 | See Albania-Italy relations
The Kingdom of Italy supported Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912. |
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2008 | See Albania–Kosovo relations
Albania recognized Kosovo on 18 February 2008. According to the official text of recognition the Republic of Albania recognised the Republic of Kosovo, based on the law of 1991, which recognised the Republic of Kosova on 21 October 1991. |
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See Albania–Republic of Macedonia relations
Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia | |
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See Albania–Malta relations | |
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See Albania-Monaco relations | |
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1 August 2006 | See Albania-Montenegro relations
Albania has recognized Montenegro on 12 July 2006. Albania and Montenegro established diplomatic relations on 1 August 2006. Albanians in Montenegro |
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1970[40] | See Albania-Netherlands relations |
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See Albania–Poland relations | |
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See Albania–Portugal relations
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28 December 1913 | See Albania–Romania relations
Albanians of Romania |
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7 April 1924 | See Albania–Russia relations
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See Albania-Serbia relations
Albanians in south Serbia | |
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1994[37] | See Albania–Sovereign Military Order of Malta relations
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See Albania–Spain relations | |
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See Albania–Slovakia relations
The multi-national Communist armed forces’ sole joint action was the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. All member countries, with the exception of the People's Republic of Albania and the Socialist Republic of Romania participated in the invasion. Albania formally withdrew form the Warsaw Pact in 1968 over the matter.[31]
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See Albania–Slovenia relations | |
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See Albania–Sweden relations | |
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1 March 1922[43] | See Albania-Switzerland relations |
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See Albania-Turkey relations | |
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See Albania-Ukraine relations | |
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See Albania–United Kingdom relations |
Australia and Oceania
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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See Albania–Australia relations |
NGO's
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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1992 | See Albania–European Union relations
Albania applied for European Union membership on 28 April 2009.
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1992 | See Albania–NATO relations
Albania's relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization began in 1992 when it joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. In 1994, it entered NATO's Partnership for Peace, which began Albania's process of accession into the alliance. In 1999, the country received a Membership Action Plan (MAP). The country received an invitation to join at the 2008 Bucharest Summit and became a full member on 1 April 2009.
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14 December 1955 | See Albania and the United Nations
Albania became a full member of United of Nations on 14 December 1955.
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Former countries
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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See Albania–Papal States relations
Albania (League of Lezhë) during the reign of Skanderbeg had good relations with the Papacy. | |
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See Albania–Kingdom of Naples relations
Albania (League of Lezhë) during the reign of Skanderbeg had good relations with Naples. King Alfonso V helped him in this situation and the two parties signed the Treaty of Gaeta on 26 March 1451, according to which, Skanderbeg would be formally a vassal of Alfonso in exchange for military aid. More explicitly, Skanderbeg recognized King Alfonso's sovereignty over his lands in exchange for the help that King Alfonso would give to him in the war against the Ottomans. King Alfonso pledged to respect the old privileges of Krujë and Albanian territories and to pay Skanderbeg an annual 1,500 ducats, while Skanderbeg pledged to make his fealty to King Alfonso only after the full expulsion of the Ottomans from the country, a condition never reached in Skanderbeg's lifetime. After Alfonso V's death, his son Skanderbeg helped Alfonso V's Ferdinand I of Naples to re-established his authority in the kingdom. After Skanderbeg's death Ferdinand I helped Skanderbeg's wife and son Donika Kastrioti and Gjon Kastrioti II and some Albanians (Arbëreshë people) to away from the Ottoman terror.
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7 April 1924 | See Albania–Soviet Union relations |
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See Albania–Republic of Venice relations | |
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See Albania–Yugoslavia relations |
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in Albania
- List of diplomatic missions of Albania
- Visa requirements for Albanian citizens
References
- ^ The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lulzim Basha concludes his visit in Dakar - Senegal where the 11th Summit of the Countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference held its proceedings. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albania.
- ^ Konferencë për shtyp e Ministrit të Punëve të Jashtme z. Panariti lidhur me vizitën e fundit në Greqi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, 2012-10-06 (in Albanian)
- ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Esteri.it. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
- ^ Maria Papathanasiou. "Karolos Papoulias visits Albania - GreekReporter.com". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "Albeu.com - Greece supports EU candidate status for Albania". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "CIA – The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
- ^ Albania, CIA The World Factbook
- ^ http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/egypt/en
- ^ http://www.mfa.gov.eg/english/embassies/egyptian_embassy_albania/pages/default.aspx
- ^ "The Government of the Republic of Albania recognises the National Transitional Council in Libya, as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people". 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ "Albania recognizes the Transitional Council of Libya". 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ Likmeta, Besar (18 July 2011). "Albania Backs Libya's Rebel Government". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ Embassy of Mexico in Italy
- ^ Honorary Consulate of Mexico in Tirana (in Albanian and English)
- ^ "Albania - Countries - Office of the Historian". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Relations between Georgia and the Republic of Albania". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Georgia). Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ India - Albania Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
- ^ Govrin, Yosef (2005). "Annals of Israeli-Albanian Contacts on Establishing Diplomatic". Jewish Political Studies Review. 17 (3–4). Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Albania and Israel in Accord To Establish Diplomatic Ties". The New York Times. 20 August 1991. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ^ "Israel opens embassy in Albania". UPI. Jerusalem. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ^ Japan-Albania Relations, Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- ^ http://www.it.emb-japan.go.jp/italiano/albania/ambasciata.html
- ^ LIST OF STATES WITH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia
- ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Mofa.gov.pk. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
- ^ http://blog.naver.com/iman0714?Redirect=Log&logNo=220266009365
- ^ a b http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070818/1_24638.jsp?menu=m_30_40
- ^ http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/press/pressreleases/index.jsp?menu=m_10_20&sp=/webmodule/htsboard/template/read/engreadboard.jsp%3FtypeID=12%26boardid=302%26seqno=295494
- ^ Dates of Recognition and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bosnia and Herzegovina
- ^ Date of Recognition and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
- ^ a b "1955: Communist states sign Warsaw Pact". BBC News. 14 May 1955. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
- ^ "The Milwaukee Sentinel - May 1, 1970 (Establish Ties)". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 1 May 1970. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
Denmark has agreed to establish diplomatic relations on ambassadorial level with Albania
- ^ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania: Denmark" (in Albanian). Foreign Affairs of Albania. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Danish embassy in Tirana, Albania". Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Greece". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ http://www.osaarchivum.org/files/holdings/300/8/3/text/101-4-123.shtml
- ^ a b Historia e Ambasadës, Albanian Embassy in Holy See (in Albanian)
- ^ "Albanian embassy in Ireland". VisaHQ. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ "Irish embassy in Albania". Ireland.visahq.com. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
- ^ Gregory, Gene (27 April 1971). "Maoist Albania Desires Better Western Relations". Merced Sun-Star. p. 24. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ Berisha: Grateful to the Albanian community in Bucharest, Top-Channel, 2012-10-19
- ^ Presidenti Nishani merr mesazhe urimi nga krerë shtetesh me rastin e kremtimit të 100-vjetorit të Pavarësisë së Shqipërisë, President of Albania, 2012-11-30
- ^ Ngritja e marrëdhënieve diplomatike, Balkanweb (in Albanian)
External links
- United Kingdom
- Estonian
- Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Albania
- Estonian embassy in Athens is also accredited to Albania
- Croatia
- Kosovo
- Turkey
- Albanian embassies in Turkey
- Turkish embassy in Albania
- Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Albania
- Russia
- Analysis
- Is there an Albanian question?, Chaillot Paper No. 107, February 2008, European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Lani, Remzi and Fabian Schmidt. "Albanian Foreign Policy between Geography and History", The International Spectator 23, no.2 (1998): 79-103
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.