ISSF President Luciano Rossi, who made a landmark trip to Kosovo yesterday, has travelled on to North Macedonia and Albania to discuss the development of shooting sport in the region with key officials.
Also on the agenda was discussion about the 2030 Mediterranean Games.
The Games are due to be held in the Kosovo capital of Pristina, with Albania hosting the sailing events.
President Rossi, who had met the Kosovo Olympic Committee President, Ismet Krasniqi, the day before, engaged in positive discussions with the President of the Olympic Committee of North Macedonia, Daniel Dimevski, and the President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee, Fidel Ylli.
He has also spoken with the respective Presidents of the Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia Shooting Sport Federations - Gëzim Hazrolli, Stefan Rrufa and Jordan Tasevksi.
“All the meetings were very positive for the development of all disciplines in the three countries,” President Rossi commented.
“Engaging with both National Olympic Committee and National Federation Presidents was very important in terms of establishing a joint venture in the region.
“We need to offer strong support to all three National Federations and to enable the development of their facilities.”
President Rossi also travelled to Albania for an important meeting with General Arben Kingli, Chief of the Albanian General Staff.
The two men discussed a major project to develop Albanian shooting sport facilities to elite levels.
The previous evening President Rossi had dined in North Macedonia with Tasevski and the North Macedonia Shooting Federation’s Secretary General Tome Nestorovski.
Earlier yesterday the topic of the Mediterranean Games had been discussed in Kosovo with Presidents Krasniqi and Hazrolli.
“We are working hard at the start of a new season,” President Rossi said.
“We know that the Mediterranean Games will be in your beautiful country. Too many things were forgotten with the ISSF in the past, but no more in the future.
“We are closer, we respect your mission, your story, and we have to co-operate together.
“This is the reason that I am here for the first time in Kosovo – and not the last!
“The meeting with the President of the Kosovo Olympic Committee was really great. All the staff of the KOC and the Kosovo Shooting Federation are really great.
“This is the good way, working together. So thank you Kosovo.”