Inid Milo

Ambassador of 🇦🇱 to the Republic of Bulgaria

Views are mine. RT/no endorsement.

[Inid Milo @InidMilo]

A pleasure to see I. Kadare's literary legacy further embraced in Bulgaria.
His collected works, now enriching the 🇦🇱 Albanian corner at the 🇧🇬 National Library, are a bridge btw cultures and a reminder of Albania's enduring place in Europe's intellectual and cultural landscape

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

Deeply saddened by the tragic accident in #Bulgaria, which has claimed many lives and left others injured.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the families and loved ones of the victims, and with the people and Government of Bulgaria.

We sincerely wish a swift and full recovery to all those injured and strength to everyone affected by this tragedy.

@vpetrova_mfa

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

📍 Berlin -- Pleased to meet today with Germany’s Minister of State for Europe, Gunther Krichbaum @GuntherKrichba3, for a frank and constructive exchange. 🇦🇱🇩🇪

We discussed Albania’s European accession path and its unwavering commitment to reforms and progress, Germany’s strong support for EU enlargement, and our shared determination to ensure a credible, merit-based accession process that translates reform and tangible progress into concrete steps towards full EU membership.

#Germany is a key partner and a strong supporter of Albania’s European journey.

We deeply value this partnership and look forward to working even more closely together for a stronger bilateral relationship and our shared #European future.

#Albania2030

[Inid Milo @InidMilo]

At the #SofiaEconomicForum, I stressed the importance of https://t.co/oD3askoRYW, a rules-based order & multilateral cooperation.
Albania’s EU accession remains a strategic national objective underpinned by our ctment to reforms & a stronger, more united Europe.
🇦🇱🇪🇺#DelphiForum

[Ermonela Jaho | Soprano @ErmonelaJaho]

Downtown Magazine
When the curtain falls, the soul keeps singing.
I carry Albania within me—the little girl I was, the love of my parents, and the memories that find their way into every note.
In “Beyond the Stage,” I share a little of that inner world. Thank you, Grace A. Capobianco and DOWNTOWN Magazine, for this cover and for receiving my story with such care.
I invite you to read it. Perhaps somewhere between these words, our souls will recognise each other.
https://t.co/kbjIk07pW2

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

I had the pleasure of addressing the 14th EU-WB6 Political Directors Meeting, organised today, in #Albania. My key messages 👇

The geopolitical ground is shifting beneath us. Old certainties are being tested, alliances recalibrated, and an international order we had come to regard as relatively predictable is increasingly marked by instability, strategic competition and uncertainty. In this environment, our response must be twofold: we need democratic resilience at home, firmly anchored in the rule of law, and a merit-based #enlargement process pursued with determination as a strategic investment for both candidate countries and EU Member States.

The #security of Europe and the Western Balkans is one and indivisible. Enhanced CFSP and CSDP cooperation is about far more than ticking boxes. We share the same roof, and when the weather turns rough, we must hold the line together. Albania is not merely a beneficiary of European security; we are an active contributor to it.

As a #NATO member and EU candidate country, Albania remains unwavering in its solidarity with #Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unjustified aggression. Borders cannot be redrawn by force. We support a just and lasting peace, together with accountability for crimes committed and violations of international law.

#Regional cooperation must remain a driving force of our European integration with genuine effort to improving economic coperation, trade, connectivity and overall security as a contribution to a Europe that is stronger, safer and whole.

#Albania2030

[Inid Milo @InidMilo]

A thoughtful exchange in Sofia on the future of 🇪🇺 Europe and the next chapter of EU enlargement.

For 🇦🇱 Albania, the European path remains a clear strategic choice, one grounded in commitment, shared values and the vision of a stronger, more united Europe.

#EUEnlargement

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

📍Sofia -- I had a very good meeting with Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy, H.E. Iva Petrova, to explore how we can strengthen the energy dimension of #CorridorVIII and further deepen our bilateral and regional cooperation. 🇦🇱🇧🇬

Our discussions focused on expanding electricity interconnections, advancing regional energy market integration, accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and energy storage solutions, and building more resilient, secure and sustainable energy infrastructure across our region.

We also explored ways to take our partnership further through a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding and a concrete roadmap for joint initiatives in areas of shared interest.

#Albania remains fully committed to turning shared priorities into practical cooperation through flagship projects that strengthen energy security, reinforce regional connectivity and create tangible benefits for our citizens while contributing to a more resilient, secure and prosperous region.

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

📍Sofia -- I was pleased to participate today in the Conference on #CorridorVIII, organised by Bulgaria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Velislava Petrova @vpetrova_mfa, following the Ministerial Meeting hosted by Albania, in Tirana, in February this year.

Today’s discussions reaffirmed a simple but important reality: geography becomes a strategic asset only when we are able to connect across it. In this regard, Corridor VIII is far more than a transport project. It is a strategic East-West gateway linking the Adriatic to the Black Sea, bringing together our economies, energy networks, security interests and our shared #European future.

Earlier this year in Tirana, we established a common political vision for this corridor. Today in Sofia, our focus was clear: translating political commitment into concrete delivery. The success of Corridor VIII will depend not on declarations, but on implementation.

For Albania, this means building one fully functional road, railway and energy corridor, not a series of disconnected national projects.

Corridor VIII is also a powerful #European project. It has the potential to make the benefits of European integration tangible long before accession. Better connectivity means more trade, lower transport costs, increased investment and stronger competitiveness. Most importantly, it brings our citizens, businesses and markets closer together.

But today, connectivity is inseparable from #security. The Adriatic, the Western Balkans and the Black Sea are parts of the same strategic space. Strengthening Corridor VIII also means strengthening the infrastructure, mobility and resilience that underpin our collective security, deterrence and defence.

As the Adriatic gateway of this corridor, #Albania attaches particular importance to advancing military mobility and promoting closer coordination between the European Union and #NATO on priority dual-use infrastructure.

The political consensus already exists. What is needed now is a clear pipeline of priority projects, realistic timelines, stronger coordination among governments, and a robust mechanism to monitor implementation.

Ultimately, Corridor VIII will be measured by the results we achieve together and, most importantly, by whether our citizens experience a region that is more connected, more resilient, more secure and more European.

Albania is not only committed; we have moved into the implementation phase. We will do our part to bring Corridor VIII from vision to reality.

--

Sofje — Ishte kënaqësi të merrja pjesë sot në Konferencën për Korridorin VIII, organizuar nga Ministrja për Punët e Jashtme e Bullgarisë, Velislava Petrova, pas Takimit Ministror të organizuar nga Shqipëria, në Tiranë, në shkurt të këtij viti.

Diskutimet e sotme rikonfirmuan një realitet të thjeshtë, por të rëndësishëm: gjeografia kthehet në aset strategjik vetëm kur jemi në gjendje të krijojmë lidhje përmes saj. Në këtë kuadër, Korridori VIII është shumë më tepër se një projekt transporti. Ai është një portë strategjike Lindje–Perëndim që lidh Adriatikun me Detin e Zi, duke bashkuar ekonomitë tona, rrjetet energjetike, interesat tona të sigurisë dhe të ardhmen tonë të përbashkët evropiane.

Në fillim të këtij viti, në Tiranë, përcaktuam një vizion të përbashkët politik për këtë korridor. Sot, në Sofje, fokusi ynë është i qartë: ta kthejmë angazhimin politik në zbatim konkret. Suksesi i Korridorit VIII nuk do të matet me deklarata, por me zbatimin.

Për Shqipërinë, kjo do të thotë të ndërtojmë një korridor të vetëm, plotësisht funksional, dhe jo një seri projektesh kombëtare të palidhur.

Korridori VIII është gjithashtu një projekt i fuqishëm #Evropian. Ai ka potencialin t’i bëjë përfitimet e integrimit evropian të prekshme përpara anëtarësimit. Lidhje më të mira do të thotë më shumë tregti, kosto më të ulëta transporti, më shumë investime dhe konkurrueshmëri më të lartë. Mbi të gjitha, ai afron qytetarët, bizneset dhe tregjet tona.

Por sot, ndërlidhja është e pandashme nga #siguria. Adriatiku, Ballkani Perëndimor dhe Deti i Zi janë pjesë e së njëjtës hapësirë strategjike. Forcimi i Korridorit VIII do të thotë gjithashtu forcim i infrastrukturës, lëvizshmërisë dhe qëndrueshmërisë që mbështesin sigurinë, parandalimin dhe mbrojtjen tonë kolektive.

Si porta hyrëse e këtij korridori nga Adriatiku, #Shqipëria i kushton rëndësi të veçantë avancimit të lëvizshmërisë ushtarake dhe nxitjes së një koordinimi më të ngushtë ndërmjet Bashkimit Evropian dhe #NATO-s për infrastrukturën prioritare me përdorim të dyfishtë.

Konsensusi politik tashmë ekziston. Ajo që nevojitet tani është një listë e qartë projektesh prioritare, afate realiste, koordinim më i fortë ndërmjet qeverive dhe një mekanizëm i qëndrueshëm për monitorimin e zbatimit.

Në fund të fundit, Korridori VIII do të matet me rezultatet që arrijmë së bashku dhe, mbi të gjitha, me faktin nëse qytetarët tanë do të përjetojnë një rajon më të ndërlidhur, më të qëndrueshëm, më të sigurt dhe më evropian.

Shqipëria nuk është vetëm e angazhuar; ne kemi kaluar në fazën e zbatimit. Do të bëjmë pjesën tonë për ta kthyer Korridorin VIII nga vizion në realitet.

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

Europe’s history is, in many ways, a history of enlargement. Its future will be written the same way: through enlargement that makes our continent stronger, more united, more secure and more prosperous.

#Enlargement is not only about candidate countries being ready to join. It is equally about the #European Union being ready to welcome them.

We welcome today’s European Commission Communication as an important step towards an EU that is prepared for its next chapter.

For Albania, enlargement is a shared strategic project that on one hand strengthens our democracy, transform our way of life and defines our future and, on the other, contributes to Europe’s security, competitiveness and democratic resilience.

#Albania is ready. Not only to join the European Union, but to help shape its future.

Ready to deliver on commitments and reforms; ready to embrace the gradual integration through concrete and impactful steps; ready for an ambituous yet realistic accession roadmap working closely with the Member States and the European Commission.

For a stronger #Europe at home. A stronger Europe in the world. 🇦🇱🇪🇺

#Albania2030 #StrongerTogether

[Inid Milo @InidMilo]

A day in Varna bringing together cooperation and culture.

A constructive mtg with Mayor B. Kotsev on stronger links btw Varna and Albania’s coastal cities, followed by BUNA Forum and an encounter with 🇦🇱artist A.Lulaj, finalist for the Balkan Contemporary Art Prize.

🇦🇱🇧🇬

[Inid Milo @InidMilo]

Heartfelt congratulations to my esteemed colleague and dear friend, the Ambassador of Cyprus🇨🇾 to Sofia, Haralambos Kafkarides, on being honored with the prestigious Order of the "Madara Horseman" First Class! I
🇦🇱🤝🇨🇾

[Giorgia Meloni @GiorgiaMeloni]

Edi, amico mio, grazie di cuore per questo videomessaggio. Come sempre riesci a mettere insieme ironia e qualche verità scomoda! 😉

Mi fa piacere sapere che, dopo tanti cambi di interlocutore a Roma, tu abbia finalmente avuto modo di affezionarti un po’ di più a quello attuale. Cambiare spesso panchina non aiuta mai a costruire qualcosa di solido. Ma alla fine, quando trovi la squadra giusta, è più facile giocare bene e fare risultato.

In questi anni abbiamo condiviso un rapporto sincero e una collaborazione concreta, che ha rafforzato sempre di più il legame tra le nostre Nazioni 🇮🇹🇦🇱

L’Albania è un’amica e un partner prezioso, e sono orgogliosa del cammino che stiamo facendo insieme anche in ambito europeo. Un abbraccio caro @ediramaal e a presto!

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

A pleasure to meet with Nathalie Kauther, Director for the Western Balkans at the German Federal Foreign Office, for a substantive exchange on our excellent bilateral relations, Albania’s EU accession process and the current dynamics shaping the Western Balkans.

#Germany remains a key partner for #Albania, both bilaterally and in our European journey. We discussed the progress of Albania’s accession process, the importance of maintaining the momentum of reforms and the need for a credible, merit-based and predictable enlargement process.

We also exchanged views on the evolving regional landscape, including the importance of strengthening stability, regional cooperation and #European integration at a time when, against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting security environment, the Western Balkans are increasingly recognised as an important part of Europe’s security and geopolitical resilience.

A strong Albania–Germany partnership is an investment not only in our bilateral relations, but also in a more stable, connected and European Western Balkans.

#Together

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

📍Alpbach -- At the kind invitation of Austria’s Foreign Minister @BMeinl, it was a pleasure to take part in the European Forum #Alpbach - a unique place where Europe pauses from the noise and pace of everyday politics to reflect, amidst the calm of one of Austria’s most beautiful villages, on itself, its challenges and, above all, its future.

It was a particular pleasure to contribute to the panel discussion on “Capability & Renewal: Mobilising Europe’s Power to Act”, a timely conversation on how Europe can strengthen its capacity to act, adapt and shape its future in a rapidly changing world.

For #Albania, this conversation is far from an external one. As a country firmly on its path towards EU membership, our present and our future are deeply intertwined with Europe’s own future. Europe’s concerns are our concerns, its challenges are our challenges, and the decisions taken today will help shape the #Europe we aspire to join and contribute to tomorrow.

I emphasised that in an increasingly competitive and uncertain world, the EU must be able to act with greater speed, determination and strategic purpose across a range of key priorities, including #enlargement, because
enlargement is not merely about making Europe bigger. It is about making Europe stronger.

Albania is not only preparing to join the EU. We are already contributing to Europe’s security and stability through our steadfast alignment with the EU’s CFSP, including the adoption of EU sanctions and participation in EU-led missions and operations; through our active role within NATO; and through our firm commitment to the values, principles and responsibilities that underpin the #European project. We stand ready to assume an even greater role in addressing our common challenges.

The Europe we seek to join should not only be larger. It must be a Union that is more capable of acting, faster when necessary, stronger when challengbeleiveed, and more united when it matters most. This is why Albania values being part of the European conversation today: because we want to help shape the Europe of tomorrow.

Thank you, Minister and dear Beate, for including Albania in these important discussions and joint efforts.

Our ambition is not simply to be ready for #Europe; it is to be useful to Europe. 🇦🇱🇦🇹🇪🇺

#Albania2030
#BelieveInEurope

[Inid Milo @InidMilo]

Tdy, I had the pleasure of meeting 🇧🇬 Minister of Energy, Ms. Iva Petrova, to discuss strengthening 🇦🇱🇧🇬 energy cooperation, with a focus on energy security, diversification, renewables and market connectivity.
We also highlighted the strategic importance of Corridor VIII.
🇦🇱🤝🇧🇬

[Ferit Hoxha🇦🇱 @HoxhaFer]

Shqipëria shpreh shqetësim të thellë mbi deklaratën e Presidentit të Serbisë, Aleksandar Vučić, lidhur me mundësinë e ndryshimit të rrjedhës së lumit #Ibër dhe përfshirjen e ekspertëve dhe institucioneve serbe në shqyrtimin e një mundësie të tillë.

Ndryshimi i rrjedhës së një lumi që përbën pjesë të një sistemi ujor ndërkufitar nuk është një çështje thjesht e brendshme apo një vendim që mund të merret në mënyrë të njëanshme, veçanërisht kur pasojat e tij prekin drejtpërdrejt territorin, mjedisin, sigurinë ujore, furnizimin me ujë dhe jetën e qytetarëve të një vendi tjetër.

E drejta ndërkombëtare e ujërave është e qartë në këtë drejtim. Parimet e përdorimit të drejtë dhe të arsyeshëm të ujërave ndërkufitare, detyrimi për të parandaluar, kontrolluar dhe reduktuar dëmet ndërkufitare, si dhe detyrimi për bashkëpunim, shkëmbim informacioni dhe konsultim për masat që mund të kenë pasoja ndërkufitare, janë pjesë e standardeve të konsoliduara të së drejtës ndërkombëtare. Serbia është palë e Konventës së #UNECE-së për Mbrojtjen dhe Përdorimin e Ujërave Ndërkufitare dhe Liqeneve Ndërkombëtare që prej vitit 2010 dhe ka pranuar edhe mekanizmat e saj për zgjidhjen e mosmarrëveshjeve.

Shqipëria pret që #Serbia të respektojë plotësisht detyrimet e saj ndërkombëtare dhe parimet e fqinjësisë së mirë. Çdo projekt ose masë që mund të ndikojë në rrjedhën, sasinë apo cilësinë e ujërave që prekin Kosovën duhet të trajtohet me transparencë, mbi bazën e të dhënave shkencore, me vlerësim të plotë të ndikimit ndërkufitar dhe përmes konsultimit me palën e prekur.

#Uji nuk mund të përdoret si instrument presioni politik dhe as si mjet për të ndëshkuar një vend apo një popullsi tjetër.

Shqipëria mbështet fuqimisht të drejtën e #Kosovës për siguri, zhvillim të qëndrueshëm dhe mbrojtjen e burimeve të saj ujore.

Ne besojmë fort dhe presim qe çështje të tilla të trajtohen përmes #dialogut, bashkëpunimit dhe standardeve evropiane, jo përmes kërcënimeve apo ndërhyrjeve e veprimeve të njëanshme.

[Edi Rama @ediramaal]

Very interesting summertime exchange between our foreign ministers. Although I was expecting an answer about the #Ibër, we somehow travelled from hydrology to international law, made the obligatory stop at “Greater Albania”, passed through “Kosovo and Metohija”, and eventually arrived at the familiar museum of Serbian historical anxieties.

There is a peculiar piece of political folklore in Belgrade that appears immune to time: whenever Albania speaks about #Kosova, “Greater Albania” must immediately be summoned, as if repetition might one day turn an old ghost into a relevant argument.

It won’t.

Albania has no claim whatsoever on Serbian territory and no need to invent one. Nor do we need a “Greater Albania” to stand with Kosova.

Kosova is a state of its own. The Albanians of Kosova are precisely that: Albanians of Kosova. They have their Republic, their institutions and their right to determine their own future. We will always stand with that right.

Serbia lost Kosova. Repeating that it did not may perhaps turn defeat into victory in the geography of political imagination, but unfortunately maps are less accommodating. The territory of the Republic of #Kosova is not Serbian territory, and the natural resources situated within it are not resources of the Republic of Serbia. Our Serbian friends know this perfectly well, including whenever we sit together around European tables.

So back to the river.

The original issue remains exactly where Albania left it: the #Ibër is a transboundary water system. Serbia is entirely free to manage resources within its jurisdiction. What it cannot reasonably argue is that possible consequences for another country magically stop at the Serbian border.

That, after all, is why international water law exists. Rivers have the inconvenient habit of following geography rather than diplomatic talking points.

The situation of the Serbian community in Kosova has also been invoked. Their rights matter. Their security matters. Their property, language, cultural and religious heritage must be protected. Albania has never had any difficulty saying so, because that is simply what a democratic state owes its citizens.

And here we reach perhaps the most entertaining acrobatic manoeuvre in this exchange: warning Albania against ethnic expansionism while referring, in the very same statement, to the territory of another sovereign state as if it were still Serbian. That is quite a circle to square.

Perhaps it works inside a political bubble in Serbia. Outside it, geometry becomes less forgiving. And yes, I could not agree more that the future of our region must be one where borders progressively lose their power to divide us. Absolutely.

But there is a small prerequisite before borders can become less important: accepting the ones that are already there. The genius of the European project was precisely to separate national belonging from territorial appetite.

The Albanians of Kosova are Albanians of Kosova. Albania will stand with them and with their Republic because we share history, language, families and a future, but above all because a free, democratic and secure Kosova is a legitimate European state and an indispensable part of the stability of our region.

There is nothing clandestine about this position. There never has been. No secret maps. No hidden borders. No “Greater” anything required.

Albania’s position will therefore remain exactly the same in public and in private: we respect Serbia, we want good neighbourly relations with Serbia, and we want the entire region inside Europe - Serbia very much included.

But good neighbourliness cannot mean asking every neighbour of Serbia to move permanently into Serbia’s version of history.

The Balkans have already paid far too much, in blood and in lost time, for that particular accommodation.
And meanwhile the #Ibër, blissfully unaware of all our historical cartography,will continue flowing according to geography rather than folklore.

🇦🇱🇽🇰🇷🇸🇪🇺

[Bulgarian Dispatch @BGdispatch]

How Bulgaria's only Albanian village keeps 390-year-old heritage alive. #bulgaria #bulgariandispatch #albania https://t.co/eAjyb7A036

[European Parliament @Europarl_EN]

Albania has made strong progress on its EU accession path.

Parliament acknowledges the country's ambition to conclude accession negotiations by 2027, while stressing that continued progress towards EU membership depends on the effective implementation of key reforms.