Albanian PM Rama’s visit to Türkiye marks new era in bilateral relations

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s visit to Ankara bolsters relations with Türkiye through key agreements, emphasizing stability in the Balkans

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s official visit to Türkiye, upon the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place on Tuesday.

It included the first meeting of the Türkiye-Albania High-Level Cooperation Council in Ankara, signaling a deepening partnership that spans a century of diplomatic ties.

During the visit, Rama and Erdogan discussed various aspects of relations between the two countries, aiming to further deepen bilateral cooperation. The discussions extended to regional and global developments, particularly focusing on maintaining peace and stability in the Balkans. Both leaders emphasized the shared history and strong social and cultural bonds that form the bedrock of their relationship.

“Türkiye and Albania are two NATO allies contributing to the preservation of peace and stability in the Balkans,” Erdogan said during the joint news conference with Rama.

Following the leaders’ meeting, Ankara and Tirana signed six agreements, further strengthening the contractual basis of their bilateral relations.

These agreements covered a wide range of areas, including environment, defense, media, communication, and more. The cooperation also extends to sectors such as health care, defense and education.

Erdogan stressed the economic aspect of the bilateral ties, highlighting the aim to double the current trade volume from $1 billion to $2 billion. He also reaffirmed Türkiye’s continuous support to Albania in various fields, including aid during natural disasters, health care assistance amid COVID-19 and construction of hospitals.

Rama expresses gratitude for Türkiye’s prompt recognition of Kosovo’s independence, earthquake relief aid, and COVID-19 vaccination support to Albania.

“You had assured me that as long as Türkiye stands, Albania will not be forsaken,” Rama said to Erdogan.

The two leaders also addressed broader geopolitical issues, particularly the situation in Gaza. Erdogan praised Albania’s support for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, while Rama advocated for a two-state solution and emphasized the importance of guarantees for peace, proposing collaboration between Arab nations and Türkiye for security assurances.

Source: Newsroom