Albania–Croatia relations

Albania-Croatia relations

Albania	Croatia

Albania–Croatia relations are foreign relations between Albania and Croatia. Both countries established diplomatic relations on August 25, 1992. Albania has an embassy in Zagreb. Croatia has an embassy in Tirana. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean and NATO. Albania became one of the first countries to announce the recognition of the sovereign state of Croatia in 21 January 1992.^[1] Many ethnic Albanian volunteers from both Albania and Kosovo fought alongside Croats in Croatia's War of Independence, most notably including Agim Çeku.

Political

In April 2009, both countries became full members of NATO at an event which both Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader attended.^[2][3] In the same year, the two countries decided to build a joint Nuclear Power Plant on the Albanian border with Montenegro.^[4] This decision was greeted warily by the government of Montenegro, which is worried about the plant's environmental impact. The two have a history of defense pacts, and overall theirs is a good relationship.^[5]

The Albanian flag was held and flown in the 20th anniversary of Operation Storm also known as Victory Day of Croatia, to acknowledge the support of Albanians in the Croatian War for Independence. Croatia reaffirmed Albania of its close alliance through this action.

Another major factor in the relationship is historic and current Albanian emigration to Croatia, including the centuries-old Arbanasi community. On July 2016 an Albanian middle-school was inaugurated in Zadar for the Arbanasi people living there and books in Albanian were delivered from the Albanian Embassy in Zagreb. ^[6] More than 50 pupils started their studies in the Albanian school for the school year 2016-2017.^{[7] [8]}

See also

• Foreign relations of Albania
• Foreign relations of Croatia

References

1. Date of Recognition and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
2. Koci, Jonilda (8 April 2009). "Albanian, Croatian flags raised at NATO headquarters". Southeast European Times. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
3. "NATO welcomes Albania and Croatia at the Summit". Abkhazia Institute. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
4. "Albania and Croatia to put Nuclear Plant on Montenegro's border". Macedonian International News Agency (MINA). Retrieved 2009-04-18.
5. "Macedonia, Albania, Croatia to deepen defense cooperation". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
6. http://fax.al/read/news/4612710/12205699/ne-kroaci-hapet-shkolla-e-pare-e-larte-ne-gjuhen-shqipe
7. http://fax.al/read/news/4612710/12207771/zyrtarizohet-mesimi-ne-gjuhen-shqipe-ne-zare-te-kroacise
8. http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/croatia/en/croatian-and-albanian-media-inauguration-albanian-language-teaching-gymnasium-zadar

External links

• Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Albania)