The deepening of bilateral relations between Cyprus and Albania and the country’s path toward accession to the European Union were the focus of a meeting held Thursday in Nicosia between Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos and the Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Ferit Hoxha.

Mr. Kompos pointed out that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Albania, noting that contacts between the two sides demonstrate “a growing political momentum.”

As he noted, the two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening cooperation and agreed to intensify both political and technical dialogue at all levels.

Referring to Albania’s European path, Mr. Kombos noted that Cyprus had committed to acting as an “honest broker” in the country’s reform efforts.

“Today, I firmly believe that Albania is closer than ever to its European future. There is still work to be done, but rest assured that Cyprus will continue to act as an honest broker in this process,” he said.

Referring to the Western Balkans, the Foreign Minister emphasized that this is “a priority region for the European Union,” adding that “the enlargement process must proceed in a way that creates a positive environment for both the European Union and the countries involved.”

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Mr. Kompos stated that he briefed his Albanian counterpart on the latest developments and reiterated the Republic of Cyprus’s commitment to resuming substantive negotiations, based on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the European acquis.

At the same time, he thanked Albania for “its consistent, principled stance and its pro-European position” regarding the Cyprus issue.

For his part, Mr. Hoxha described the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union as “particularly successful,” noting that Cyprus “played a substantial role in advancing the European Union’s agenda.”

At the same time, he expressed Albania’s appreciation for the emphasis the Cypriot Presidency placed on EU enlargement and the principle of meritocracy, stressing that Cyprus’s stance in support of enlargement and Albania’s accession process “has earned our sincere gratitude.”

Referring to his country’s accession process, he stated that “thanks to Cyprus’s guidance and leadership, Albania has completed the first phase of the accession process.”

Regarding bilateral relations, the Albanian minister noted that an agreement had been reached to further develop cooperation in the sectors of tourism, energy, technology, agriculture, and services, as well as to strengthen ties between the business communities and chambers of commerce of the two countries.

At the same time, he expressed his hope for the launch of a direct flight between Nicosia and Tirana.

Referring to international developments, Mr. Hoxha emphasized that Albania remains “fully aligned” with the European Union regarding the war in Ukraine, continuing to support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the country.

Regarding the Middle East, he stated that Albania remains aligned with the European Union’s position and supports efforts to restart the political process with the aim of “a just and lasting peace.”

Responding to a question about Albania’s role in European security following its accession to the EU, Mr. Hoxha noted that his country, as a member of NATO, is actively involved in strengthening the Alliance’s European pillar and is committed to gradually increasing its defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

As he said, this year Albania will allocate a total of 2.6% of GDP to defense and military equipment, describing this as a “substantial contribution,” while emphasizing that his country is “100%” aligned with the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.