ADM director meets with Albania's vice-premier

(ANSA) - ROMA, 04 APR - Roberto Alesse, Director General of Italy's Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), met in Tirana with Belinda Balluku, Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy. The Italian ambassador to Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, and the director of Albanian Customs, Genthi Gazheli, also attended the meeting.
    "The Balkans hold great importance for the future of Europe; Albania is our natural partner in this area," Alesse explained during the meeting, emphasizing the excellent relations with Italy due to a long history of cooperation. It is crucial that the Western Balkans enter Europe," he said. Since I took office, I have aimed to intensify cooperation with the Albanian customs administration and other countries in this region.
    "Today is a great day for our countries and for our customs," Vice-Premier Balluku said. "We have a long-lasting relationship with Italy, which we deem the gateway to Europe. Albania is working on the construction of a new commercial port in Durres, which will be the largest in the Balkans and will be connected with Macedonia and Kosovo. I hope, therefore, that relations with Italian Customs will continue in a fruitful way." Alesse, in line with ADM's constant commitment to the Western Balkans in carrying out cooperation projects, went to Albania "as a strategic country for our commercial interests and regional stabilization," a statement from ADM reads. Italy is Albania's leading supplier, and the trade interchange reached a record level of 3.3 billion in 2023. In addition, there are understandings in other areas, above all immigration." (ANSA).