German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has thanked Albania for its “tireless efforts” during its annual chairmanship of the OSCE, the German embassy in Tirana announced on Friday. It added that Albania faced an “extremely difficult” period but nevertheless did a “very successful work”.
The embassy praised the work of the two Albanian OSCE teams in Tirana and Vienna.
“Our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the successful Albanian OSCE Chairmanship in 2020. In extremely difficult times, Albania has done very successful work with its teams in Tirana and Vienna,” the embassy wrote.
In addition, they referenced Minister Maas’s thanks to Albania in a press statement video.
In his speech at the OSCE Council of Ministers on Friday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also referred to the difficult period of his chairmanship, and praised the teams’ work.
The embassy said the successful work by Albanian was also evidenced in the OSCE Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, four appointments to top positions were made unanimously among 57 member countries.
Helga Schmid was appointed the new OSCE Secretary General, Maria Teresa Ribeiro as the OSCE representative on freedom of the media, Matteo Mecacci will lead the office for democratic institutions and human rights, and Kairat Abdrakhmanov was appointed high commissioner on national minorities.
The annual OSCE chairmanship will pass to Sweden On 1 January 2021.
