Awarded the highest decoration "The National Flag", presented the Key to Capital Tirana and declared honorary citizen of the Museum City of Berat, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has become the first ever senior foreign politician leaving Albania with the highest number of awards granted to her by authorities of this Balkan country.
The answer to such a precedent can be found in the following motivation of the decoration "The National Flag", which, as President Ilir Meta said in the ceremony held on July 18 at the Palace of Brigades, is the first to be granted to a foreign politician in the 2018 Year of Skanderbeg proclaimed by Albania.
"For the invaluable contribution to the overall intensification of the relations between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia; for the further strengthening of the centennial friendship between the Albanian and Croatian people; as well as for the unsparing support in the frame of the Albania's EU integration process."
After receiving the highest decoration of the Albanian State, Croatian President extended her thanks to President Meta underlying: "I thank you Mr. President for this honor by awarding me the Decoration of 'The National Flag", which, as a matter of fact, is not only for me, but also for the Croatian people! This award that I am receiving is symbol of a deep friendship between our two countries, particularly between Albanians and Croatians, and I am grateful both to you and Albania."
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic paid an official visit to Albania at the invitation of her counterpart Ilir Meta from the 18th to 20th of July, 2018 during which she held talks with the highest authorities in Tirana, visited the port city of Durres, went to the Museum City of Berat and visited the town of Kruja whose history is linked with Albania's National Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti-Skanderbeg. She also addressed the Albanian Parliament.
"What an agenda just in less than three days... She loves it," an aide to the Croatian President told me during the dinner hosted by President Meta at the Palace of Brigades on July 18, the first day of the visit.
Meta, Kitarovic to Jointly Visit Arbanasi in Croatia
"Since the very beginning I want to confirm right away that the relations between our two countries are more than excellent. The centennial friendship between our two people and nations and the strong historical bonds stand in their foundation," said President Meta in a joint press conference with his Croatian counterpart Grabar-Kitarovic after the official talks on July 18.
Being on the same wavelength Ms. Kitarovic declared solemnly: "Albania was a friendly country for us at a time when friends were few and when we needed them so much- it was the period of the war when Croatia was faced with an aggression and during the reintegration of the Croatian territories and afterwards during the reconciliation process. We appreciate your support during those difficult years and we will never forget it."
But both presidents laid a special importance on the role of Albanian community living in Croatia as a strong historical bond. "The presence of the Arbanasi of Zara since more than 300 years in Croatia, but also a new Albanian community from all lands, who have fought and many of them have laid down their lives for the freedom of Croatia make this friendship stronger," said Meta.
The Arbanasi, or Albanians of Zara (Albanian: Arbėreshėt e Zarės) are a community in the Zadar region, Croatia, of Albanian origin, who traditionally speak a dialect of Gheg Albanian. Their name means Albanians in Croatian and is the toponymy of the first Arbanasi settlement in the region, which today is a suburb of Zadar. Albanians of Croatia are an autochthonous national minority recognized by the Constitution of Croatia. As such, they elect a special representative to the Croatian Parliament, shared with members of four other national minorities. In the 2011 Croatian census, there were 17,513 Albanians living in Croatia, 0.41% of total population
The outstanding Croatian Albanolog Milan Sufflay as well as the other Albanolog, Aleksandar Stipcevic, an Arbanas from Zara, have served as extraordinary linking bridges between the two people because they turned into reliable spokesmen of Albanians' history making an extraordinary contribution to the strengthening and future of this friendship, said Meta.
"Together with President Grabar-Kitarovic we have agreed to pay a joint visit to the area where Arbanas people live during the 2018 Year of Skanderbeg," revealed President Meta.
For her part, President Kitarovic said that the Albanian community in Croatia is an example of the strong bonds and human relations between the two nations and revealed that out of 18,000 Albanians living in Croatia about 2500 volunteered to fight and unfortunately 87 of them lost their lives while 37 of them are declared missing.
"This means a lot for us and we are grateful to the Albanian nation, Albanians of Croatia, who have made their contribution for the freedom of our fatherland," she said. In addition, Ms. Kitarovic praised the deeds of the Croatian historian Milan Sufflay one of the founders of the Albanalogy. On the other hand, the Croatian historian and writer of the 18th century, Andrija Kacic Milosic promoted one of the greatest figures of Albania's history, Gjergj Kastrioti-Skanderbeg, his heroism and fight for freedom of Albania against the Ottoman Empire. She said that it was important that when Albania has proclaimed the Pan- national Year of Skanderbeg to mention the fact that he and his son had been declared at that time "Honorary Citizens of the Republic of Dubrovnik" for their contribution against the Ottoman Empire and strengthening of the trade relations.
Albanian MP in Kitarovic's Delegation
"I am happy that I am accompanied by the Croatian Deputy, Mrs. Lekaj-Prljaskaj, who represents the Albanian community. I thank you that you are here with us and I am confident that she will convey to the Albanian community in Croatia the results of our talks," said Ms. Kitarovic.
Mrs. Ermina Lekaj-Prljaskaj, born on 15 July 1971 in Prizren (Kosovo), has graduated from Rijeka Faculty of Law. She was elected from the list of the Union of Albanians in the Republic of Croatia, and began the parliamentary mandate on October 14, 2016. MP Prljaskaj is member of the Domestic Policy and National Security Committee, of the Committee on Human and National Minority Rights and of the Judiciary Committee.
Speaking to Albanian Daily News she expressed the pleasure of being part of the delegation of President Kitarovic and was hopeful that the results of the visit and the talks would foster the relations between Croatia and Albania. In a greeting during the dinner hosted by President Meta she expressed the gratitude to Croatia and President Kitarovic for the status of Albanian community in the country where they live.
Referring to the participation of Mrs. Prljaskaj in the Croatian delegation President Meta noted: "Albanians are represented today even by an honorable deputy in the Parliament of Croatia, Mrs. Ermina Lekaj Prljaskaj. As part of the official delegation of President Grabar-Kitarovic, she does not only honor us, but is also the best symbol of the hospitality granted by the Croatians to Albanians."
During the state dinner which followed the awarding ceremony, President Meta took the opportunity to praise highly the dedication and professionalism of the Croatian Ambassador to Tirana, Sanja Bujas- Juraga in her work. He said that her contribution was part of the level of the current relations between Albania and Croatia.
Albania and Croatia to Enter 'Strategic Partnership'
What has drawn particular attention this year is the drive of the authorities of Albania and Croatia to upgrade the level of the bilateral relationship to the 'Strategic Partnership' and diversify it, among others, even in the military field.
"It is high time for these relations to be raised at the Strategic Partnership level," President Meta declared in Zagreb on January 12, 2018 during a work visit he paid there. "Referring to the strong historical ties and brilliant relations between the two countries, as well as the common Euro-Atlantic vision, President Meta stressed that it is time for these relations to be raised at the Strategic Partnership level," a statement released by the presidential press office said at the end of Meta's visit in January this year in Zagreb.
Such an idea was revisited by President Meta in the joint press conference with her Croatian counterpart after their talks in Tirana on July 18, when he said: "The two countries are working to upgrade the level of cooperation to 'Strategic Partnership' soon."
The proposal has been welcomed by the Croatian side, which mentioned it after Meta's proposal for the first time.
"Acknowledging the role and influence of Albania in Southeastern Europe, I have welcomed the proposal of the Albanian side to have more close strategic relationship between our two countries and I hope that the process of the negotiations ends as soon as possible. The political dialogue between our two countries is very dynamic and we are interested in the further strengthening of our cooperation," Croatian President told Albanian and foreign media in Tirana on July 18, 2018.
Both sides consider such a move as a push for boosting the economic cooperation. The trade exchanges marked a growth of 20 percent in 2017, but, according to the opinion of Croatian President, the figures are modest both the trade exchanges and investments. Both sides see as potential fields of cooperation those in energy, building of hydropower stations, thermo centrals, renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture.
But there are strategic projects taking regional scope like TAP, IAP-it, the Blue Corridor, as well the bilateral cooperation between the Albanian and Croatian seaports.
On the other hand, both Albania and Croatia have pledged to step up their joint efforts for boosting regional cooperation, which could turn the Western Balkans into a spot of peace and stability in this side of Europe. In addition both sides back the EU mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia for reaching a sustainable and final solution, which would help the European perspective of the countries of the entire region. It was also welcomed the announcement of the Commissioner, Avramopoulos that Kosovo had met the conditions for the visa liberalization.
As full- fledged members of NATO, Croatia and Albania greeted the invitation received by Macedonia to join NATO as this country started the membership process along with them in the frame of the 'Adriatic Charter'. A dispute on the question of the name with Greece prevented Macedonia to join the Alliance.
In the meantime, Croatia expressed its readiness to help Albania to clean up its own territorial waters and improve its ability to respond quickly to oil spills and other hazards. Albania has made some headway in tackling marine pollution, with the army and volunteers helping to clean up beaches at the start of each tourist season, but garbage thrown into rivers generally washes eventually into the Adriatic.
Sea currents and winds make this a big problem for Croatia, further north up the coast, and it is particularly visible in the winter months, President Kitarovic said on July 19 on a trip to the Albanian port of Durres. "A lot of effort and a lot of funding is invested into cleaning the shores of the Adriatic. We would prefer to invest that money into prevention of any environmental pollution," she said at a ceremony to launch the new cleanup project.
Croatia is funding the first stage of the project, worth a quarter of a million euros, as its booming tourism industry generates 20 percent of its gross domestic product. Grabar-Kitarovic also told Albania, which hopes to join the European Union, that environmental protection was one of the "most complex" chapters, or policy areas, for a candidate country to negotiate.
Ready to Provide Political, Technical Support
Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and has been an unwavering supporter of Albania's drive to join the Club.
"Croatia has been and remains a strong supporter for the opening of the negotiations on Albania's EU accession. The model and experience of Croatia in EU is very valuable for Albanians," President Meta told Ms. Kitarovic expressing also the gratitude of Albania for her personal support in this endeavor. Reconfirming the unquestionable support of Croatia to Albania's aspiration to join the EU, the Croatian President underlined: "Albania enjoys a political and technical support of Croatia in its path towards the EU integration. I want to congratulate you on the decision of the Council (of Europe), that recognizes the progress made by Albania and opens the way to the opening of the negotiations in June of 2019."
In the meantime, Speaker Gramoz Ruci, who received Croatian President on July 19, noted that Croatia has an experience which should be followed as an example with regard to the European integration. "No one better than Croatia can understand, evaluate and support more the aspiration and efforts of Albanians and the other people of the Western Balkans to join the European family," said Ruci, who expressed the readiness of the Albanian Parliament to cooperate with the Croatian Parliament and other institutions during the preparatory process of the opening of the negotiations.
Croatian President's Message from Parliament
In her address to the Albanian Parliament, the Croatian President conveyed the message that the excellent relations between Croatia and Albania are deeply rooted in the common history of the wars against invaders, the excellent co-living of the Albanian community in Croatia, the joint efforts for the development and well being of the two people, common achievements and efforts to get integrated into NATO and EU, as well as the efforts to build a prosperous, secure and peaceful region.
"Albania is a friend of Croatia and has been as such when we needed friends and they were very few. Many Albanians have sacrificed their lives for Croatia and Croatia does not forget this. Croatia pays a great attention to the stability, security and prosperity in the Southeastern Europe and supports the European perspective of the region," she said.
President Kitarovic congratulated Albania for the decision of the Council of Europe on setting the roadmap and date of the opening of the negotiations. She expressed her confidence that Albania will continue the path of reforms which it has undertaken.
What happened in the course of the three-day visit of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to Albania has been another act to upgrade the bilateral relations between the two countries at higher levels and expand them in many fields. But it is apparent that the promotion of their relations has focused also on the improvement of the situation in the region with a more dynamic approach in the mutual benefit of all the countries. In a way or another, the results of the visit have revealed that they concern prosperity, well-being, security and friendship of the people of Albania and Croatia in the future.