The value of diplomacy depends on its ability to achieve results. I have dedicated the first 100 days of my mandate to detect the untapped potential in our relations and outline a strategy to seize it. Some results have already come, says the new Italian Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Marco Alberti, in this interview with Albanian Daily news.

The dynamic diplomat who has declared that the focus of his Albanian tenure is ‘economic diplomacy’ notes that the Italy-Albania relations are excellent. But in order to deepen the bilateral cooperation, our partnership must set concrete priorities. “If everything is priority, nothing really is. Partnership means setting clear priorities, pursuing common goals and creating shared value. Turning ideas into projects and projects into concrete results,” stated Marco Alberti.

In this regard the Ambassador mentions several achievements, and underlines his optimism in Albania’s tangible progress on the path towards European integration. However, he reminds us that the entry into the EU, whenever it happens, not as a 'finish line', but as a starting point of a new stage, which requires equal energy, commitment and cooperation for the new challenges.

- Your Excellency, thank you for this interview. You have just started your diplomatic mandate in Albania, and I noticed a somewhat unusual CV. You were born in Zaire, you have served in Buenos Aires, New York, Kazakhstan. Who is Marco Alberti?

- I am a professional nomad, grown up in Italy after being born in Africa. My wife is Argentine and I have three kids attending international schools. I feel proud to represent my country having known others. Since I was a child, my parents taught me that traveling is not just about 'discovering', but 'meeting': new people and different cultures. The more you travel, the better you know yourself. All my life, I have challenged myself, working in four different continents and in both public and private sector. My demon is boredom, not tiredness. That is why I am happy to be here: Albania is a collection of surprises and opportunities; impossible to get bored here. My goal is not wasting even a second of my mandate.

- You are the ambassador of a country with which Albania has relations that are not simply 'strategic', but very special-relations that have only grown stronger. What is your challenge in this regard?

- The Italy-Albania relations are excellent. We have historical ties and close cooperation in all areas. Every day 14 direct flights connect Tirana with Italy; we are the main economic partner, with a EUR 3,6 BLN trade turnover and 3000 companies operating in the country; 800 Italians are studying here and more than EUR 320 million in development cooperation projects have been allocated. Our friendship is a treasure, but it is not enough: the future of Italy-Albania cooperation depends on the ability to turn our privileged relations into a strategic partnership. Strategy is tough, because it implies choice: to strengthen our partnership we must choose some (few) priorities. If everything is priority, nothing really is. Partnership means setting clear priorities, pursuing common goals and creating shared value. Turning ideas into projects and projects into concrete results. People, companies, governments, all want results, not statements. The value of diplomacy depends on its ability to achieve results. I have dedicated the first 100 days of my mandate to detect the untapped potential in our relations and outline a strategy to seize it. Some results have already come!

- Which ones?

- Since January, two bilateral MOUs in the field of naval cooperation and two in the healthcare sector have been signed. With the support of the Italian CDP, last March Albania introduced a draft law for the establishment of a National Development Bank, designed to facilitate financing for SMEs, start-ups and underfinanced sectors. The agreement on social security was ratified: a historic result achieved thanks to a shared Italy-Albania commitment started well before my arrival. Some Italy-funded EU programs have been renewed, especially EU4LEA, designed to bolster Albania's law enforcement capabilities. Since January, 53 fugitives have been arrested, as a result of our judicial and police cooperation, based on 14 joint investigative teams. Additionally, 75 cultural promotion events have been already organized, plus 17 new initiatives to come on the Italian Culture Week program, scheduled June 1-8.

Some days ago, the bilateral meeting between our PM Meloni and Albanian PM Rama, held in Tirana on the sidelines of the EPC, ended up into a Joint Declaration, which indicates some priority areas to make our cooperation more strategic and forward-looking. We are already at work to prepare the first Italy-Albania Intergovernmental Summit, to be held in Rome by the end of the year. The everydayness of diplomacy is not always acknowledged, but it matters. 

- You have stated that you will place a special focus on economic diplomacy…

- Economic diplomacy is a key driver of foreign policy and a growth factor, by increasing trade, promoting investments, enhancing collaboration. The new reform of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, designed by Minister Tajani, relies on a new Directorate General dedicated to economic and growth diplomacy. Concretely, we will continue to support our SMEs, which make up 95% of the Italian GDP, and their export. Regarding Albania, our ambition is reaching EUR 4 BLN in trade exchange. Hard, but possible. However, I believe we should also bring here some Italian big companies, prioritizing capital-intensive investments, capable of generating high-tech jobs and driving supply chains of SMEs. In this respect, the key sectors should (and could) be the defense industry, sustainable energy, healthcare and agribusiness. Methodologically, I see three guiding principles: cooperation, meaning "Italy in Albania", but "Italy with Albania"; innovation, to develop creative capital and retain (or attract) talent; education, to re-skill and up-skill young people.

- Mr. Ambassador, after a long ordeal, Albania seems to be making tangible progress on the path towards European accession, and Italy's help has been present at every step. In your view, will 2030 be a reasonable "finish line"?

- Albania is doing well and Italy is here to help. I am optimistic. The mentioned Joint Declaration includes the reinforcement of pre-accession technical assistance to support Albania's entry. Albania is running fast and the opening of cluster 3 on May 22 confirms it. However, two conditions remain valid: one, deepening the reforms needed to align with EU principles and values and with the international standards; two, considering the entry into the EU, whenever it happens, not as a 'finish line', but as a starting point of a new stage, which requires equal energy, commitment and cooperation for the new challenges.

- A sensitive topic that also sparked debate in Italy was Albania's assistance in the issue of migration management, particularly the opening of the reception center in Gjader for illegal immigrants. On this issue, PM Rama declared that it was a 'one-off' gesture for Italy, as a sign of gratitude to a friendly country that has welcomed Albanian immigrants. What is your comment?

- As an Ambassador, I am not expected to comment, and I will not do it. My duty is emphasizing that Italy-Albania relationship is comprehensive, consolidated, and future-oriented. We will work, according to political instructions, to make it grow better and further.

- Our two countries are opening more and more new channels of cooperation. The Pension Agreement was recently ratified, and we are also seeing an increased presence of Italian tourists-not to mention the Giro d'Italia 2025, which this year started from Albania. What kind of echo did this event have in Italy, and can we say that these bilateral relations have already entered a new, more qualitative phase?

- The agreement on social security was overdue and we are happy to have it ratified. In general, Albania is still to be fully discovered. After decades of closure, it is opening up to the world. Italians know much, but not all, about this country, despite Italy is present everywhere. If you look around Tirana, many iconic buildings, both ancient new ones, are designed by Italian architects. In Italy, curiosity about Albania is growing, and curiosity is the driving force not only behind science, research and business, but also behind tourism and cultural cooperation. Your government is working to bring Albania into the world; we can help bring the world into Albania: institutional cooperation, tourism, business, culture.

- Have you had the opportunity to travel through the country in these past few months, and what are your impressions?

- I have already visited Girokaster, Permet, Valona, Berat, Scutari, Kruje, Durazzo. A "taste" of Albania that made me even more convinced of the great privilege I have of serving here.