“Albania, as a European Union candidate country and in anticipation of the opening of accession negotiations, joined all the stands and commitments of the European Union, whenever it was required and it was necessary,” On FridayNishani told the Assembly’s annual debate.

“Albania pays a special attention to the regional cooperation in its entirety,” he said, expressing support for Kosovo’s participation in all multilateral activities based on the spirit of regional cooperation and for progress on the ongoing dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the EU and supported by the United States and other international partners.

He noted that Kosovo, which is recognized by 109 UN member countries, has made extraordinary achievements in consolidating its democratic institutions, good governance, multi-ethnic coexistence of religions and in particular the progress in the Euro-Atlantic processes.

On FridayNishani said Albania will continue to strongly support the expansion of international recognition of Kosovo, its active role as a full-fledge member of all regional organizations, and the inexorable process of its membership in international organizations. This would strengthen peace, security and development in the Balkan region, he explained.

This year marked the 61st anniversary of Albania’s membership in the UN, he noted, affirming the country’s continued faith in the principles of the UN Charter.

He went on to spotlight Albania’s contributions to addressing global challenges, saying that his country has piloted the design of international indicators for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 16 on peace, justice and consolidated institutions, ratified the Paris Agreement in a short time, and joined the Global Coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant/Da’esh early on.

Albania has adopted a special legal framework for dealing with violent extremism and terrorism by undertaking such strong measures; approval of the strategy for the fight against violent extremism on November 2015 and the establishment of the Office of the National Coordinator of Radicalization and Violent Extremism on 1 August 2016, he added.