TIRANA, Feb 13 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs organized on Tuesday the wrap-up meeting “Albania in the Security Council, contribution to global peace and security during the most challenging of times.”

Albania completed its term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the years 2022-2023.

In his remarks, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, said that, “Our foreign service has earned internal and external respect for its performance.”

“For the first time, after almost 70 years as a member of the UN, our country had the opportunity to sit on the highest and most important body of the United Nations, which is responsible for maintaining peace and security in the world. It was a truly special event in the history of Albania and today I want to give a special thank you to all those representatives of our Foreign Service who worked hard to make a success of this term,” Hasani said, also thanking the ambassadors, partners and allies for excellent cooperation.

“There is a field where small countries can compete with the world’s biggest powers as equals if given the opportunity. This is the domain of ideas and principles. There we are all equal to compete and make our voice heard. I believe that this strategic choice to contribute to the Security Council with ideas and by standing up for the principles of international law and multilateralism, has been the key to the success of our term,” said Hasani.

“Albania proved that even small countries have something to contribute to the debates on the sharp issues that have befallen the world today, when they are given the opportunity to do so in forums such as the Security Council. We had the opportunity to work to advance the women’s agenda for peace and security, sharing with the world the lessons learned the hard way as a country that has made remarkable progress in the empowerment and inclusion of women in political and public life,” he continued.

“We had the opportunity to contribute to the debate on violent extremism by sharing with the world the lessons learned from our centuries of experience as a country where different faiths, Christians and Muslims live as brothers in peace and complete harmony. We worked hard to emphasize the importance of full respect for international law and human rights everywhere and at all times, just as we worked to give voice to other priorities related to climate change, cyber security, accountability, peace and security of young people, as well as the advancement of the work methods of the Security Council,” Hasani said.

But, he noted, there was one issue that marked the Council’s work above all: the illegal Russian aggression against Ukraine.

“Albania took up its term as a non-permanent member on the SC at a time when a part of the world still refused to come to terms with the fact that in the 21st century, a permanent member of the Security Council, and as such with a special responsibility for maintaining peace and security in the world, could undertake an act of aggression that the world had not seen since the Second World War,” he emphasized.