Albania's President-elect Bujar Nishani was sworn in on Tuesday as the country's sixth president since 1991.

Nishani was elected last month by Albania's parliament despite a boycott by the opposition Socialists. However, the lawmakers from the opposition attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The 45-year-old, who once served as the country's ministers of justice and interior, replaced Bamir Topi for a five-year term, during which the tiny Balkan country has promised to continue political reforms aimed at future membership of the European Union.

"I am committed to creating all conditions necessary to receive the European Union's candidate status for this country," Nishani said after a ceremony in the country's parliament.

Albania has been striving to join the European Union for years. This autumn the EU will make a new assessment on its bid following two consecutive refusals in as many years.