Diplomats Welcome Albania’s New President
By Besar Likmeta
After being disappointed in their calls for the election of a new president by a process of consensus, ambassadors have nevertheless welcomed Bujar Nishani’s election as head of state – urging him to safeguard the independence of state institutions.
“The election of Mr Nishani to be the next President of Albania is good news,” the head of the OSCE presence in Albania, Eugen Wollfarth, said.
“I am confident that his profound knowledge and broad experience will allow him to serve his country in the most constructive way,” he added.
Parliament elected Nishani on Monday evening with 73 votes in favour and one against, after talks between the ruling parties and the opposition on a consensual candidate collapsed a day earlier.
The head of the EU delegation, Ettore Sequi, noted the role of the presidency in safeguarding the independence of state institutions.
“The role the President in anchoring Albania’s state institutions in independence and in helping the country unite its efforts will be of crucial importance for Albania to successfully address the challenges it faces on its path towards the European Union,” Sequi wrote in his greeting to the President-elect.
Meanwhile the US ambassador in Tirana, Alexander Arvizu, underlined that Nishani had done much to advance relations between the United States and Albania and said he looked forward to working with him.
“We will support his efforts to strengthen the rule of law and preserve the independence of Albania’s institutions, and, in tandem with other international partners, to realize the legitimate aspirations of the Albanian,” Arvizu said.
