The United Nations Organization (UN) is the largest international/intergovernmental organization in the world, with the main purposes to maintain peace and security, develop relations among nations, foster cooperation between nations to solve economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian international problems and provide a forum for bringing countries together to meet the UN’s purposes and goals. It was founded shortly after the World War II, on 24 October 1945, as an initiative of the allies of World War II, with an aim to enable dialogue between the countries of the world due to its unique international character, and take action on the issues confronting humanity

During the Cold War, the UN has played a major role in reducing conflicts in a polarized world. Despite major changes in the world, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and contemporary challenges facing the international community the UN has been able to maintain its authority amid the difficulties. In an increasingly fragmented world, the need of a stronger UN advancing and pushing forward for multilateralism is more crucial than ever. Complex crises such as COVID 19 can be successfully prevented and/or addressed only by working and interacting together based on clear and general accepted rules. They require a reinvigorated multilateral system based on universal rules.

The commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the UN constituted a unique moment to reaffirm the engagement and commitment of the UN and its membership to its values and principles.

Undoubtedly, Albania’s accession to the United Nations on December 14, 1955, constitutes a historical landmark. Shortly after joining the UN, Albania participated actively in the work of UN organs and specialized agencies. Albania holds permanent diplomatic missions at the UN headquarters in New York and the UN Offices in Geneva and Vienna.

During its membership in the United Nations, Albania has paid particular attention to issues related to the preservation of peace and strengthening of security worldwide, the promotion and protection of human rights, alleviating economic and social problems, promotion of health and environmental protection and strengthening of international cooperation and promotion of multilateralism.

Albania has been actively supporting the UN peacekeeping efforts. It takes part in several UN peacekeeping operations by contributing with troops, military and police observers as well as contributing with funds to the budget of peacekeeping operations.

Albania’s UN activity is an important element of our international and multilateral political action, in partnership with our strategic friends and allies. Co-operation with the UN and its agencies has been extensive and successful in many areas.

Albania was twice elected member of ECOSOC for the period 2005-07 and the period 2013-15. During 2013 Albania has also contributed to ECOSOC as the Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council. Currently, Albania has presented its candidacy for ECOSOC for the term 2028-2030, in the elections to be held in 2027.

Albania is part of the “One UN” pilot country that is implementing the reform of the United Nations. The international conference “Delivering as One”, held in Tirana from 27-29 June 2012, praised Albania’s experience in this regard.

Since January 2011 Albania is a member of the Executive Board of UN-HABITAT.

Albania was elected in April 2011 to the UNICEF Executive Board for the term 2012 – 2014 and the UNEP Executive Board for the period 2012-15.

Albania has concluded a successful mandate in the Human Rights Council for the period 2015-2017 and was re-elected as a member of the HRC for the period 2024-2026, at the elections held in New York, in October 2023, with a majority of 123 votes. Albania was a member of the Women’s Status Committee (CSW) for the period 2016-2019.

Albania signed the Paris Climate Change Agreement on April 22, 2016, ratified it on July 14, 2016, and deposited the instrument of ratification with the UN Secretary-General in September 2016, becoming one of the 55 first states undertaking this step. Since November 2016, this agreement is in force for Albania.

Albania is committed in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2030, and is among the few countries in the world, part of the UN pilot program, for the implementation of Objective 16, which has to do with the strengthening of democratic institutions in the country, the rule of law, the development of a stable market economy and respect for human rights. Albania is working to co-ordinate the Sustainable Development Goals with those of European Integration. One of Albania’s objectives is to fulfill its commitment, within the resolution A/RES/70/1 “Transforming the World: Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”, for a volunteer presentation at UN forums in July 2018.

Albania, in the status of a member of the UNDP / UNFPA / UNOPS Executive Board, has been mainly focused on drafting the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan for these agencies. Albania’s UN Representative held the post of Vice President of the Executive Board of the UN Development Program, Population Fund and UNDP / UNOPS for the year 2018, what is evidence of engagement of the country for a more active role within the UN development agencies, in particular, of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. During 2017, Albania ran and won a second term as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2017-2021.

In June 2020, Albania was elected Vice-President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, thus, getting itself, as well, a seat in the Committee of Conferences for 2021. Albania (Permanent Representative) did not serve as a Vice- President of UNGA since the 50th Session of UNGA in 1995. This is the second time, that Albania takes over such an important seat on behalf of the Eastern European Group.

Albania as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

On 11th of June 2021, Albania was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two year term 2022-2023, as part of the Eastern European Group. For the first time Albania in its almost 70-year history of UN membership served to the highest global security body.

During its membership in the Security Council, Albania made an outstanding contribution, by playing an active role to preserve peace, security and development at the regional and global level. In this context, Albania has gained a tremendous respect in the international arena.

The two-year period to the UNSC was faced with challenges for European Security, the Russian aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, humanitarian challenges in conflict zones, countries that faced multiple hybrid attacks etc. All these challenges reaffirmed that Albania’s foreign policy is based on the fundamental principles of respect for the UN Charter; transparency and accountability; humanitarian response and sustainable conflict solutions. The main focus of Albanian membership to the Security Council has been mainly European region and security.

Albania as a co-penholder of aggression against Ukraine file, during its mandate played a key role in a series of actions undertaken by the UN to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, such as the adoption of Resolution 2623 (2022) on Ukraine and a number of other initiatives in the UN General Assembly.

Also, as co-penholder of the human rights file in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Albania in close partnership with US Mission in New York, held in August 2023 the first open meeting of the Security Council, since 2017, focusing on the human rights violation in North Korea.

Albania also successfully chaired, for two years the Sanctions Committee on Yemen 2140, as well as the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Matters, known as the Working Methods Group of the Security Council. There were a number of activities held during this period in New York and Tirana.

Albania has also played a prominent role in bringing the voice of civil society closer to the Security Council, while achieving its objectives of the Agenda for Peace, Women and Security, as well as Climate, Peace and Security agenda.