Visit to Canada of Her Excellency Jozefina Topalli, M.P., Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, and a Parliamentary Delegation

From October 15 to 19, 2007, Her Excellency Jozefina Topalli, M.P., Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, led a parliamentary delegation for an official visit to Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara Falls, at the invitation of the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons. The delegation was composed of Mr. Leonard Demi, Head of the National Security Committee; Mr. Rexhep Uka, Deputy Head of the Committee for Production, Commerce and Environment, Mr. Blendi Klosi, Member of the European Integration Committee, Mr. Pal Dajci, Member of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights, Mr. Gjovalin Prenga, Member of the National Security Committee. Ms. Suela Ruseti, Spokesperson to the Speaker of the Parliament, also accompanied the delegation.

In Ottawa, the delegation met with:

• The Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Senator, Speaker of the Senate;
• The Honourable Peter Milliken, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons;
• The Honourable Maxime Bernier, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs;
• The Honourable Consiglio Di Nino, Senator, Chair of the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
• Mr. Ed Komarnicki, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration ;
• Mr. Rick Casson, M.P., Chair of the Standing Committee of National Defence;
• Mr. John G. Williams, M.P., Chair of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC);
• Mr. Léon Benoit, M.P., Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association; and
• Mr. Eric Siegel, President and CEO, Export Development Canada.

In Toronto, the delegation met with:

• His Honour David Miller, Mayor of the City of Toronto; and
• Mr. André Marin, Ontario Ombudsman.

The delegation visited the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa, the CN Tower in Toronto and Niagara Falls.

During the various meetings, Speaker Topalli stressed the fact that Albania sincerely hoped to be invited to the next NATO summit, as well as the Republic’s desire to join the European Union. The Kosovo issue was also discussed. Speaker Topalli voiced her desire to see Canadian investors invest in Albania. The Speaker gave a speech at Carleton University. The members of the delegation were special guests at the Throne Speech.