Presidents of Bulgaria and Albania support peaceful dialogue on migration crisis

The problems of the migration crisis should be addressed through dialogue and the combined efforts of all EU countries, and diplomacy is the most important tool. This is the position of the Presidents of Albania and Bulgaria who met on March 5 in Tirana. Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev made a state visit there at the invitation of his counterpart Ilir Meta.

The migration crisis leads to serious problems in our region, said President Radev. According to him, Turkey should not be left alone with the migrant pressure, but we should also help Greece with the protection of the external euroepan borders," he said. In his view, the migrant pressure shows that Europe's policy in this area has clear deficiencies.

In his words, both the humanitarian and security issues must be resolved. Rumen Radev recalled that three years ago he proposed that the EU develop an operational plan for the protection of the EU's external borders.

Albania’s President Ilir Meta said it is important for the EU to address the challenges of migrant pressure at the Greek-Turkish border through dialogue, engagement with all EU and NATO countries, because these are two NATO countries.

President Radev has confirmed to his counterpart Ilir Meta that Bulgaria supports Albania's path to the European integration and believes Tirana is ready to begin negotiations with the EU.

Ilir Meta thanked for Bulgaria’s support for the European perspective of Albania and other countries in the region. As a positive fact, Rumen Radev noted the legislative changes in Albania that enable the Bulgarian national minority to exercise their rights.

He pointed out that this is one of the main criteria for Builgaria’s support for Albania's future EU membership.

President Ilir Meta also thanked for the support his country received from Bulgaria after the devastating earthquake last November.

Later, President Radev also met with Prime Minister Edi Rama and Parliament Speaker Gramoz Ruci.