Albania and UAE celebrate 30 years of diplomacy, focus on women’s empowerment – Exit

A joint project to empower women in conflict zones will be a cornerstone of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Albania, according to a webinar organised by the UAE embassy in Athens last week.

The event coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the UAE and was attended by Mimoza Halimi from the European and Foreign Ministry and Lorena Pllumbi from the Ministry of Interior. Eiman Alzeyoudi, Chargé d’Affaires of the United Arab Emirates, delivered a keynote speech.

In her opening remarks, Alzeyoudi highlighted her country’s efforts to empower women, including the UAE’s decision to donate $36 million to the cause in the past decade alone. The UAE also spearheaded a Women, Peace and Security (WPS) initiative, which helped train 357 women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Mimoza Halimi, speaking on behalf of Albania, said that the country supports the agenda supported by the UAE’s WPS initiative and plans to implement it for sustainable peace and security in conflict zones. Halimi added that Albania plans to focus on five areas of action that it believes can have the greatest impact.

According to Alzeyoudi, the UAE will continue to implement the WPS programme in 2022 and has pledged to invest $50 million in the World Bank Women Entrepreneurs Fund, which it launched. In this regard, the representatives of the two countries expressed their desire to cooperate further by establishing programs to help female entrepreneurs and improve women’s financial literacy.

Albania and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations on June 1, 1992. In 2011, Albania opened its own embassy in Abu Dhabi.

In April, Interior Minister Bledi Çuçi met with Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to discuss the framework for future cooperation between the two countries.

On July 29, the ambassadors abroad Sulaiman Almazroui attended the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj.