“We have no doubt that Albania's place - a reliable partner and ally in NATO - is in the EU. Unlike some other EU member states, we are not in the dilemma over whether to support enlarging or strengthening the EU,” has said the Polish Ambassador to Tirana, Monika Zuchniak-Pazdan.

In an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News, Ambassador Pazdan stressed that the first official visit by the head of state of Poland, Andrzej Duda after 20 years, just a few months after the start of accession negotiations with the EU, is first and foremost a clear signal and confirmation of Polish strong support for Albania's EU aspirations. According to her, a ‘credible enlargement process’ is in the interest of both the Western Balkans countries and the entire European Union. “It is thus a ‘win-win’ situation. The Western Balkans region is of key importance to ensuring security in the context of migration flows, terrorism, cyber and hybrid threats, as well as the destabilising impact from certain third countries.”

The Ambassadorbelieves that the economic component of President Duda's visit will give new impetus to our economic and investment relations. “Looking only at statistical data, it is gratifying to see a high - 60% - increase in trade turnover between our countries, but in our opinion there is considerable potential for increasing the volume of this economic turnover, diversifying its commodity structure, including more advanced products, products of the highest technology,” she said.      

Touching upon the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Ambassador said the defensive war waged by it amounts to a struggle for the future of Europe. “Poland pledges to continue its support for Ukraine in order to stop Russian neo–imperialism. Ukraine has never been and will never be alone in its fight because Ukrainians are fighting for all of us. Unless stopped, Russia is ready to go much further.”

Asked about the increased tension between Kosovo and Serbia, Ambassador Pazdan revealed that Poland was in line with Brussels’ stance whereby both Serbia and Kosovo need to act responsibly and engage immediately in the EU-facilitated Dialogue to find a sustainable solution to the situation in the north of Kosovo that guarantees safety, security and participatory democracy for all citizens and paves the way for the implementation of the past agreements, including in relation to the Association of Serb municipalities.    

Speaking of her impressions on Albania and its people, Warsaw’s top diplomat to Tirana described Albania as a country of unbelievably hospitable people, a country that is changing every day before our eyes. “I am fortunate to get to know Albania not only as a tourist but as a temporary resident of this beautiful country. It is definitely a unique opportunity to relish my time here, to explore not so commonly visited “hidden corners” of Albania, and above all, meet many interesting people and hear their stories about Albania,” said Polish Ambassador to Tirana Monika Zuchniak-Pazdan in the following interview: 

Albanian Daily News: First of all, Your Excellency, let me express the great pleasure of Albanian Daily News to have you as a guest of honor in this exclusive interview, which becomes more interesting as it happens after the historic visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Albania the first ever after two decades at such a level. There were many messages conveyed by the Polish President to Albania and Albanians but let me highlight two of them: First, Albania deserves the soonest EU membership and secondly, Polish – Albanian bonds will get stronger with relations being expanded intensively. As the main protagonist in all the process of organizing this visit to Tirana and its success, what could you say on the ‘unseen’ side of the achievements of this historic event? 

Polish Ambassador Monika Zuchniak-Pazdan: The first official visit by a head of state after 20 years, just a few months after the start of accession negotiations with the EU, is first and foremost a clear signal and confirmation of our strong support for Albania's EU aspirations. We have no doubt that Albania's place - a reliable partner and ally in NATO - is in the EU. Unlike some other EU member states, we are not in the dilemma over whether to support enlarging or strengthening the EU. Enlarging the EU leads to strengthening it, and a real accession perspective is the best motivating factor for candidate countries to undertake reforms. For these reasons, a credible enlargement process is in the interest of both the Western Balkans countries and the entire European Union. It is thus a ‘win-win’ situation. The Western Balkans region is of key importance to ensuring security in the context of migration flows, terrorism, cyber and hybrid threats, as well as the destabilising impact from certain third countries. Our support for the EU perspective of the Western Balkans is based on positive reasons, such as developing the area of democracy, security and prosperity in Europe for the mutual benefit of both the EU with its member states and the Western Balkans. The EU made a commitment to societies of the Western Balkans to enable these countries to join the EU. Now the EU should meet the commitments and that was the main message of the talks during the President's Duda visit to Tirana.

After the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Albania clearly sided with the attacked country, demonstrating support and solidarity. For Poland, a frontline country, this is very important so during his visit President Duda expressed thanks to the Albanian side for all these actions and discussed the most pressing security threats and challenges to our region and the whole Euro–Atlantic area, and assessed the preparation of the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius.

- In addition, another recent highlight in the bilateral relations was the 7th session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between Poland and Albania (April 4, 2023). The document of the meeting seems very ambitious showing, according to analysts, a new approach on economic cooperation with concrete proposals for cooperation in many vital fields. Do you think that a new chapter has opened for the economic cooperation between the two countries overcoming the reluctant conclusion of previous such meetings whereby ‘the economic ties lag behind the excellent strategic relationship’ between Albania and Poland?

- I believe that the economic component of President Duda's visit will give new impetus to our economic and investment relations. We encourage Albanian entrepreneurs not only to deepen cooperation with Polish partners, but also to locate direct investments in Poland. Looking only at statistical data, it is gratifying to see a high - 60% - increase in trade turnover between our countries, but in our opinion there is considerable potential for increasing the volume of this economic turnover, diversifying its commodity structure, including more advanced products, products of the highest technology. In my opinion, economic relations between our countries - although good - are still far from our expectations and potential. After all, Albania is one of the more interesting European markets with great potential. Poland, on the other hand, is now one of the largest economies in the European Union recording almost uninterrupted growth for 30 years. I am glad that on the sidelines of the President's visit a MoU between PAIH and AIDA was signed. I hope that it will lay the foundation for more intensive cooperation between entrepreneurs from Poland and Albania. I am also convinced that along with Albania’s progress on its European integration path, Polish entrepreneurs will be more and more eager to do business with their Albanian partners.

- Madame Ambassador Poland is considered now as one of the main powers in Europe and the largest in Eastern Europe, and its position, especially at these times when it is in the forefront of the dangerous confrontation with Russia in support of Ukraine but also in direct defense of the Western world has taken special importance in the EU and the NATO. How could Poland reach such heights in relatively a short time after the collapse of the communist regime?

- Over the last three decades, Poland has taken advantage of the historic opportunities offered by peace in Europe. We managed to transform a debt-laden captive state on the outskirts of the Soviet empire into a country with a dynamic economy resistant to external crises belonging to the North Atlantic Alliance – the greatest defensive alliances in the history of mankind – and an integration-oriented member of the European Union of free and equal nations that are among the world’s most developed states. During that period, Poland became a European leader in economic growth, tripling its gross national product per capita to the level where – in terms of buyer power – it oscillates around 79% of its Western European equivalent.  

We are now experiencing a watershed moment in European history. Russian aggression and the defensive war waged by Ukraine amount to a struggle for the future of Europe, over the standards and values that will become pivotal for political life on the continent, for transatlantic relations, and for the institutional aspect of a new European political and security architecture as well as in international politics at large. Russian aggression causes us to reflect on matters that are fundamental for every participant in the international system. For Poland – the only member of NATO and the European Union that borders Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus – this reflection is existential in character.

I am proud that Poles and other nations have offered the Ukrainian people a strong support because a free and democratic world is not a theoretical concept but a real community of values. Poland’s leading role in response to Russia’s invasion has been unprecedented. We have been at the forefront of calls for sending aid – including the military one – to Ukraine to help fight off the Russian aggressor and to impose severe sanctions on Russia. Since the invasion began, Poland has welcomed more Ukrainian refugees than any other European country. Not in refugee camps, but in our homes. Today, Poland is home to more than 1.5 million Ukrainians. OECD data showed that last year Poland spent over 9 billion dollars – 1.5 percent of its GDP – on humanitarian aid for Ukraine. We also act as a logistics hub for aid transfers from other countries. Poland pledges to continue its support for Ukraine in order to stop Russian neo–imperialism. Ukraine has never been and will never be alone in its fight because Ukrainians are fighting for all of us. Unless stopped, Russia is ready to go much further.

- "We are one of those countries that has never questioned Kosovo's place in the community of international countries. We have recognized the independence of Kosovo, we have recently established the consular representation. We have also welcomed the liberalization of visas. We have the issue of Kosovo in our mind," President Durda declared in Tirana. Please, Madame Ambassador, which is the stance of official Warsaw on the escalation of the tension in northern Kosovo and the border between Kosovo and Serbia where Belgrade has stationed its army. As a key power in the EU and NATO has Poland offered its contribution to overcome the impasse between Pristina and Belgrade besides what is being done in the frame of EU institutions and the US diplomacy?

- Let me remind at the outset that Poland recognized Kosovo as an independent state shortly after it declared its independence in 2008 and makes an active contribution to ensuring stability and security in the region. Poland participates in the KFOR mission, while the Polish military contingent has 300 soldiers who have been stationed in Kosovo since 1999. There is also a Polish Police Contingent operating in Kosovo. From 2000 to 2008 it served as part of the UNMiK mission, while since 2008 it has served as the European Union Rule of Law Mission EULEX Kosovo in which we have remained the most numerous contributor for many years. Poland strongly condemned the recent unprovoked attacks against KFOR contingent, law enforcement, and media in the north of Kosovo. These violent criminal acts are absolutely unacceptable and must be stopped. We urge both parties to immediately and unconditionally take measures to de-escalate the tensions, and return to normalisation. We expect Kosovo authorities to immediately suspend police operations in the vicinity of the municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo. The mayors should perform their transitional duties in premises other than the municipal buildings. Early elections should be announced as soon as possible in all four municipalities. We expect Kosovo Serbs to take part in these elections. Both Serbia and Kosovo need to act responsibly and engage immediately in the EU-facilitated Dialogue to find a sustainable solution to the situation in the north of Kosovo that guarantees safety, security and participatory democracy for all citizens and paves the way for the implementation of the past agreements,  including in relation to the Association of Serb municipalities. We all need to find an effective solution to the situation between Kosovo and Serbia but both countries should be more motivated and move more towards dialogue.

- As a follow up, an in-depth overview of the current situation in the Western Balkans against the background of the 20th anniversary of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki, Greece (June 1), unfortunately shows that the region does not seem to head where it has been said to be going both by domestic politicians and EU officials. It is no consolation at all, but the worries are much deeper when seeing the world as a whole. Now when pledges and reality are face to face do you think that it could have been done more regarding the EU accession process of the region, particularly in view of the war situation in the eastern front of European Continent and Russia’s feverish efforts to trouble waters in the Western Balkans, having mainly the open support of Belgrade?

- Some processes cannot be accelerated as much as we would like to. The path towards EU accession might appear sometimes too long and oftentimes challenging, but it remains a fair path that matches the rewards of joining the EU. Albania has to continue pushing forward the implementation of all key reforms necessary for EU integration. Ever since Poland joined the European Union, it has been a supporter of the enlargement policy which we consider to be one of the most effective policies offering positive results. By this I mean not only the positive effect EU funds have on economic growth and improved living standards in countries that have joined the EU, but also the geopolitical aspect, namely developing the area of stability and prosperity across Europe. In our opinion the enlargement policy is of paramount importance for the future of the EU. In order to ensure stability and security in Europe, the EU needs to continue its enlargement policy with determination and support reforms in the Western Balkans countries so that in the future they can become EU member states. The enlargement policy also has a beneficial impact on economic growth in the EU and candidate countries, enabling them to better respond to challenges such as improving citizens’ living standards or combating corruption and organised crime.

- Having a ‘rich’ CV in your diplomatic career sending you across the world, April 1, 2021 found the seasoned diplomat, Monika Zuchniak-Pazdan as the head of the Polish diplomatic mission in Tirana. First, Madame Ambassador, which were your first impressions on such an appointment, and secondly, how do you see things now regarding Albania, its people, history and traditions, culture and nature? How do you feel as an ordinary Polish citizen among Albanian citizens in Tirana and other areas of this Balkan country that you could have visited?    

- I am very honored that I can carry out my first mission as ambassador precisely in Albania, a country of unbelievably hospitable people, a country that is changing every day before our eyes, and finally a country that is our ally in NATO and what I strongly believe in, will soon be our partner in the European Union. For me Albania is a country of great opportunities and extraordinary potential, struggling of course with various problems, such as the emigration of the young generation, but I firmly believe that the process of European integration will help solve these problems.       

As you know, Albania is a very popular tourist destination among Poles. They appreciate the beauty of its nature and hospitality of the hosts. Most tourists choose coastal towns, however, more and more decide to explore charming mountainous parts of Albania. I am fortunate to get to know Albania not only as a tourist but as a temporary resident of this beautiful country. It is definitely a unique opportunity to relish my time here, to explore not so commonly visited “hidden corners” of Albania, and above all, meet many interesting people and hear their stories about Albania. Finally, it is an exclusive chance to learn more about the cultural, religious and culinary mosaic for which this country is famous for.