President Begaj Participates in the 12th Edition of the “Global Baku Forum”
President Bajram Begaj of Albania called for active regional and international cooperation from the 2025 Global Baku Forum to courageously face today’s challenges, which, he noted, transcend political and economic boundaries as they threaten fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, human dignity, justice, and security.
“Turning challenges into opportunities,” the theme of the 12th edition of the “Global Baku Forum,” was highlighted by President Begaj not only as a goal but as a necessity in the context of complex national and international situations.
During his speech, President Begaj outlined the primary challenges we face, stating, “We need a world order where economies are stable, conflicts are not merely frozen but resolved, societies are strengthened not by division but by solidarity, and peace is built and consolidated on trust and cooperation. We need courage and a clear vision for peace, security, economic growth, and policies that truly transform the lives of our citizens.”
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other global tensions have significantly undermined security, observed the President, expressing a need for the restoration of peace.
President Begaj also reminded global leaders of the experience of emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting that similar models be followed to overcome crises and leverage them for positive and developmental change.
Another example of turning challenges into opportunities highlighted by President Begaj was technological advancement, a process that is shaping the world today.
During his address at the “Global Baku Forum,” President Begaj also shared the experience of Albania’s transformation through the vision of its new generation, a country that has shifted from isolation to its natural Western orientation: “Albania has been on a challenging journey: from totalitarianism to democracy; from insecurity to NATO membership; from a closed economy to a free market economy; from an isolated country to one visited by 10 million tourists last year and is now an aspiring member of the European Union. Albania has chosen democracy and strongly believes in its values. Albania has chosen the United States because it strongly believes in Euro-Atlantic values, has chosen the European Union and believes in this great project serving peace, security, and prosperity. Contemporary Albania has managed to harness the energy of Albanians both at home and abroad to turn challenges into opportunities. The new generation, with its ideas, aspirations, and ambitions, has been and remains decisive in realizing them.”
