Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ditmir Bushati is in Malaga, Spain, is attending the proceedings of the OSCE Mediterranean Conference 2018. In this conference, also participate the representatives of the 57 OSCE member states, as well as the six OSCE Mediterranean Co-operation Partners: Algeria, Egypt, Israel Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, and several international organizations. The discussion’s topic at the Policy Segment High Level was “The Importance of Energy for Economic Growth and Co-operation in the Mediterranean” .
In his remarks, Minister Bushati, praised the progress of this conference, which serves to the promotion and cooperation in the energy field, not only between the countries on the Mediterranean coast, but also with the OSCE participating countries. Bushati emphasized that the OSCE and the Mediterranean countries could play an important role in terms of regional cooperation addressing common challenges. “Energy is a key issue in the Euro-Mediterranean dynamics and plays a very important role in inter-ethnic relations, economic growth and international co-operation.
When added to other specific challenges of our region, such as migration, terrorism and delays in economic development, it can become a critical factor for the security of the Mediterranean basin”, he underlined. Albania considers crucial its energy sector for the sustainable development of the economy and for this reason Albania is working to integrate the electricity market in the European market and to create an Albanian electricity market.
In this context, Minister Bushati was focused on the social and political perspectives for which he expressed the conviction that “energy security and intercourse oppose all sources of extremism and radicalization, especially among young people.” Bushati reiterated the commitment of the Albanian government to contribute to the security and democratic governance in the OSCE area in general and our region as well, in particular in areas such as interreligious, cross-religious harmony and respect for minority rights, youth representation and women, also opposing violent extremism.
Speech by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Ditmir Bushati
at the 2018 OSCE Mediterranean Conference
High-Level Political Segment
“The importance of energy for economic growth and co-operation in the Mediterranean”
25-26 October 2018
Malaga, Spain
Thank you Mr. Chairperson,
Dear Colleagues,
We commend Slovakia’s decision to engage Mediterranean Partners in fostering co-operation in the energy domain. Countries on both shores of the Mediterranean, and thus all OSCE participating States, should work together to enforce energy security in the Euro-Mediterranean region. I take this opportunity to wish Slovakia a very successful Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group and also to Italian CiO of OSCE. The fact that Mediterranean issues feature among the priorities of the Italian Chairmanship-in-Office will definitely contribute to the work of this Group. Both chairmanships can count on the Albanian cooperation and support on this endeavor.
There are three linkages worth underlining in the context of today’s conference:
1. The relationship between energy security and the overall economic development of the Mediterranean basin.
2. The interconnectivity and synergies between different sub-regional dynamics and primarily between energy security and connectivity in the Adriatic-Balkan region and the Mediterranean basin
3. The potential of the OSCE to transform the Mediterranean region from a region of security challenges into a region of opportunities, in conjunction with other initiatives and multilateral platforms.
The Mediterranean region is facing the challenge of energy supply and security. Energy is a key issue in the Euro-Mediterranean dynamics and plays a very important role in the intra-relations, economic growth and international cooperation. When added to other specific challenges of our region, such as migration, terrorism and underdevelopment, it may become a critical factor for the security of the Mediterranean basin.
Neighboring countries in the Mediterranean region welcome hydrocarbon producers from Central Asia and Persian Gulf stocks to EU markets as well as renewable energy sources to generate green electricity towards Europe. There are multiple and various Mediterranean corridors of different sources of energy, geographic origins and different destinations. Combined with economic and environmental issues, they are becoming increasingly important security factors in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The importance of transforming the energy system, developing innovative, clean or renewable energy technologies, and increasing access to energy, stems from the need to transform and shape both energy markets, trade and energy supply, as well as orient economic development towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
Meetings, like this one today, taking place both at the political and technical level, are a good opportunity to discuss between us on politics, exchange experiences and practices, and develop strategies to promote economic growth and international cooperation in the Mediterranean region, and to maximize economic benefits of our countries.
My country is very well placed, geographically and politically to discuss security in the Mediterranean basin and more specifically energy security, for it is both fully integrated in the Western Balkans and it is open into the Mediterranean Sea. Its geographical position resembles that of concentric circles. It serves as a bridge in connecting Balkans with Western Europe.
Albania considers its energy sector crucial for sustainable development of its economy and for connectivity in among the countries of the region and with the rest of Europe. For this purpose we have already undertaken major investments in this strategic sector. TAP Project, for example, represents a good potential source and is considered an excellent opportunity to diversify the supply routes of natural gas. IAP is another proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe (SEE) that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia.
In co-operation with USAID and the Energy Secretariat, the Government of Albania is working to integrate our electricity market into the European market and to create an Albanian electricity stock exchange.From a more social and political perspective, we believe that energy security and connectivity counteracts all sources of extremism and radicalization, particularly among the young people.
Civil society, women, youth are important strata of population to involve in all sphere of developments and aspects of security. Albanian Government has set the promotion of youth and woman empowerment at the core of its policies and reforms. Young people and women empowerment are crucial.
The OSCE has been actively engaged in facilitating a dialogue on environment and security in the Mediterranean region since 2007 and energy is an important element on this discussion. There are a number of good practices of energy co-operation among the OSCE participating States and the experiences shared today can help further enhancing co-operation with the Mediterranean Partners in this field and lead to concrete initiatives
Good governance is a cornerstone for the promotion of stability and security and plays a significant role in ensuring a sound business and investment climate, even in the energy sector. At the same time, connectivity among countries has a boundless potential to enhance regional and international partnerships as well as stability and security across the OSCE area.
We stand ready to capitalize specifically on what we do best for the security and democratic governance in the OSCE area in general and our region in particular, in domains such as connectivity, inter-religious harmony and the respect for minority rights, youth and women representation, as well as countering violent extremism.
Thank you.
