TIRANA, June 3 – Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi continued his Baltic parliamentary diplomacy tour with an official visit to Latvia, where he met Speaker of the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) Daiga Mieriņa.
The two officials discussed bilateral relations, Albania’s European Union accession process, European and Euro-Atlantic security, support for Ukraine, and opportunities to expand cooperation. Peleshi thanked Latvia for its continued support for Albania’s EU membership bid. He said European integration remains a national priority backed by broad political consensus and by more than 90% of Albanian citizens.
In addition, Peleshi noted that Latvia’s presidency of the European Union in 2028 could coincide with an important stage in Albania’s accession process. He also stressed that the stability and European perspective of the Western Balkans contribute directly to peace and security in Europe. Meanwhile, he said NATO’s presence in the region remains vital for stability. He added that Albania and Latvia make valuable contributions as reliable allies within the Alliance.
For her part, Mieriņa reaffirmed Latvia’s strong support for European Union enlargement. She described enlargement as a strategic objective amid current geopolitical challenges. The Latvian official also voiced support for Albania’s swift accession and for the European integration of the Western Balkans. Furthermore, she welcomed Albania’s progress toward EU membership and highlighted cooperation against disinformation and hybrid threats.
The two sides also reviewed cooperation within NATO. Mieriņa praised Albania’s contribution to the Alliance, including the deployment of Albanian forces in Latvia as part of efforts to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. Later, Peleshi held also separate meetings with Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Inara Murniece and European Affairs Committee Chair Edmunds Cepuritis.
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