St Kitts-Nevis and Republic of Albania sign visa waiver agreement

Less than seven months after they met at the St. Kitts-Nevis High Commission in London to sign a joint communique formalising diplomatic relations between the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of Albania; His Excellency Dr Kevin Isaac, High Commissioner of St. Kitts and Nevis and his colleague, His Excellency Mr Oirjako Qirko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania, met again, this morning at the Embassy of Albania, to sign an agreement eliminating visas between their two countries.

High Commissioner Isaac expressed his admiration for Albania’s rich history and its UNESCO heritage sights. He commended Ambassador Qirko for the tolerance demonstrated by Albanians across his country, which is home to several different religious groups which coexist and thrive peacefully. Dr Isaac also commended Ambassador Qirko on his country’s recent adoption of a law on public private partnership, which is guided by the fundamental principles of transparency and non-discrimination. Words of congratulations were also given for Albania’s Agro-tech EXPO held in March of this year.

Ambassador Qirko discussed his Government’s plans for attracting more investment in Albania. “Our economy is based on a regional approach and by incorporating ourselves in a market of 26 million customers among CEFTA member countries, in less than 10 years, we will be fully economically integrated into the larger European market. However, we would like to see how we could explore trade and investment opportunities with St. Kitts and Nevis for our mutual benefit.”

High Commissioner Isaac welcomed the signing ceremony as yet another highpoint in the strategy of Foreign Minister Brantley and the Unity Government to build stronger relationships globally and to strengthen bonds of friendship in Europe. “I see this as an opportunity to advance easier people to people movement between our two countries and to allow St. Kitts and Nevis to further anchor people empowerment in the Federation’s sustainable development agenda”, the High Commissioner added.

Albania is a country rich in minerals and natural gas and which holds investment opportunities in many sectors such as energy and mining; transport and logistics; tourism; agriculture; and manufacturing. It is located in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Greece to the South and Southeast, Montenegro to the North and Italy to the West, Macedonia to the East and Kosovo to the Northeast.

Both diplomatic envoys agreed to visit each other’s country soon after the visa waiver agreement takes effect.