Macedonia and Albania sign agreement on mutual trips of citizens

Tirana, 14 December 2011 (MIA) - Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Poposki and Albania's Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto signed Wednesday in Tirana an agreement amending the treaty signed between the Macedonian government and Albania's Council of Ministers on mutual trips of citizens, MIA's correspondent has reported.

After entering into force, the agreement enables Macedonian and Albanian nationals to enter, exit, transit and stay in the country for three months maximum with valid biometric IDs.

The signing of the document is a crucial signal for ongoing integration processes, according to FM Poposki.

"I think a step further has been made until the moment when the countries both join NATO and EU, in which citizens will be free to travel. From that perspective, today's agreement is of great value and I believe that the citizens of Macedonia and Albania will have great benefit from it," Poposki noted.

FM Haxhinasto said that bilateral cooperation was being intensified, whereas the agreement "is a kind of preparation for Albania and Macedonia's future membership to EU.