Tirana: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, is visiting Tirana, Albania, on a working trip following an invitation from his Albanian counterpart, Igli Hasani. The visit is set to cover a wide range of topics, primarily focusing on strengthening Cyprus-Albania bilateral relations and addressing key regional issues.
According to Cyprus News Agency, during his visit, Kombos will engage in discussions with several high-ranking Albanian officials. His itinerary includes meetings with Igli Hasani, the Albanian Foreign Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, the Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj. Moreover, Kombos is scheduled to meet with Archbishop Anastasios of Albania. These discussions aim to address the Cyprus issue, Albania’s EU accession prospects, and the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, alongside regional matters involving the Western Balkans and the Middle East.
Kombos will also serve as the keynote speaker at the annual Conference of Heads of Albania’s Diplomatic Missions, underscoring the importance of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Albania. This visit comes at a time when Cyprus remains divided following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third in 1974. Despite several UN-led peace talks, the conflict remains unresolved, with the last significant negotiation attempt in 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ending without a resolution.