The Letter From The Consulate
No. 138.
Gentofte/Copenhagen, Monday 11 May 2020 |
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Dear reader,
50 years ago, on Friday 29. May 1970 Albania and Denmark established diplomatic relations. The next Newsletter, No. 139, will commemorate this important event with a rather extensive article about contacts between Albania and Denmark through the centuries.
The Danish and the Albanian authorities have used almost identical policies to keep down the casualties in the war against the Corona virus. Well done. Now we are in both countries facing the many uncertainties of the re-opening.
The Danish plan for reopening.
IF you want the full Danish plan (phase 2 and 3), you can get the 7 slides by mailing the consulate.
The COVID-19 situation in Albania on 10. May 2020
About tourism in 2020.
Especially tourism, but also e.g. trade, has been hit very hard by the necessary lock down of the countries. On 8 May 2020 the EU Commission recommended an extension of the temporary travel restrictions to the EU+ area by another 30 days. This would expire on 15 June 2020.
Read about EU tourism policies during the Corona virus pandemic.
Read the important results of the summit here.
An analysis:
Interesting article. Read it here.
About EU, China and the Western Balkans
If the EU suddenly seems more interested than it was in integrating the Western Balkans, it is partly because the expansion into the region by large regional powers such as China has got Brussels worried.
It is unsurprising that the region of the Western Balkans, tucked away in the southeast corner of Europe, has become fertile ground for the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, BRI. China’s long-term political and economic strategy encompasses developing a series of intercontinental land and maritime routes around the globe, funding multiple infrastructure projects, and strengthening economic, political and cultural ties with more than 60 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Many of the overland routes being integrated into the BRI framework are not dissimilar to those that were once part of the ancient “Silk Road” from centuries ago.
The region of the Western Balkans is strategically located and offers China several advantages with respect to its evolving BRI strategy. Despite its relatively small size in terms of total population and economic output, this six-nation area – comprising Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo – is next door to the European Union and its market of 440 million people. (Opinion from Balkaninsight.com)
That´s all for now,
sincerely,
Hans-Georg Nielsen
Albanian Honorary Consul
Comments and suggestions are welcome on hgn(at)albanskkonsulat.dk
PS. This newsletter is mainly sent to relevant Danish and Albanian authorities, to Danes who have shown interest in Albania, to Albanians living in Denmark and to the friends and contacts of the consulate.
Please visit our newsletter archive to read past issues of the Newsletter.
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