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EU: Albania's president, collaboration towards integration

(ANSA) TIRANA, NOVEMBER 16 - ''Good neighbourly relations, collaboration between the countries in the Balkans with a focus on full integration into the European Union is the only future we must leave to future generations''. That is what Albania's president Ilir Meta said opening the 12th SEEMF, South East Europe Media Forum, an annual event organized in Tirana this year, by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, CEI and SEEMO,focusing on journalism and transparency. ''We are optimistic and realistic - president Meta added -, and we continue pursuing reforms so that our economy can reach European standards. The future depends on us''. In this regard, one of the ''pillars of democracy'' in the path that leads to the EU and beyond, is precisely ''free and independent journalism''. In this respect Ilir Meta focused on fake news. ''It is necessary - he suggested - that the professionals reject any attempt to destroy good journalism to replace it with the fake news that are so widespread in the Internet''. Southeastern Europe, and especially the Western Balkans, ''are being transformed through two main values: collaboration and reconciliation''. In this process ''the local media play an irreplaceable role''. ''We must continue pursuing collaboration and regional peaceful coexistence in accordance with the model of the European Union, in order to ensure peace, security and stability''. The foreign policy of Albania, assured the Head of State, ''will continue to build new bridges''.(ANSA).