Erdogan before his visit to Albania: Turkey sees Albania as both a friend and a natural ally

Meanwhile, after Laç, Erdo Erdoganan will attend the inauguration ceremony of the recently restored Et’hem Bey Mosque in Tirana.

The Turkish president told DNA that Turkey sees Albania as both a friend and a natural ally. He said that the relations between the two countries are in their most productive period in the political, economic and social field.

Excerpt from Erdogan’s speech:

Turkey is an inseparable part of the Balkans and the Balkans is a necessary region in Turkey’s interests. Turkey’s view of the Balkans is shaped by a common history and culture. Especially during the last two decades, Turkey has done its best to promote closer and friendlier relations with the Balkan countries. Albania is at the center of this perspective. Turkey sees Albania as both a friend and a natural ally. Turkey believes that increasing prosperity and stability in Albania will serve peace and tranquility throughout the region. In this regard, Turkey has always resolutely supported the development and security of friendly and brotherly Albania with the most cordial and sincere feelings and is determined to do so in the future.

As a result of this will, Albania has become one of the Balkan countries with which Turkey’s relations are more stable and positive. In the framework of the principle of “high level political dialogue” of Turkish foreign policy, relations with Albania are diversifying and deepening every year.

Cooperation in the social, cultural and economic fields is growing every year. The agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister Edi Rama to Turkey on January 6, 2021 have been a new and historic starting point. As a result of this visit, the Joint Political Declaration on the establishment of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council was signed between Turkey and Albania, which has been on the agenda for years, and relations between the two countries were raised to the level of partnership. strategic.

Also, a protocol was signed for the restoration of the Lead Mosque, one of the monuments of the Ottoman period, in Shkodra by the General Directorate of Foundations and a cooperation agreement between the ministers of education of the two countries. The education agreement offers the opportunity to choose a Turkish language course in Albania and an Albanian course in Turkey, as well as special education, educational technologies, scholarships and teacher exchange programs. We see these developments as a great opportunity to strengthen cultural, political and trade relations between the two countries.

Although it is going through such a difficult period when the world economies are facing the pandemic, Turkey’s foreign trade with 11 Balkan countries increased by 37% year on year in 2021. We expect trade relations to grow exponentially in the next period. Currently, the volume of bilateral trade between Turkey and Albania is about 700 million dollars. Our main goal is to expand this volume to around $ 1 billion as soon as possible.

Turkey has over $ 3.5 billion in investments in Albania, including contracting services. The contribution of the Free Trade Agreement, which has been in force since 2008, in the development of trade relations and the achievement of these figures has been great. There are about 600 registered Turkish companies operating in Albania and these companies not only contribute to production, but also provide employment for about 15 thousand people. With these figures, Turkey is one of the largest foreign investors in Albania.

The relations between our countries are obvious for their humanitarian and trade dimensions. With the pandemic, health diplomacy and investment in health have given a new impetus to relations between the two countries. Although mutual trade and tourism activities worldwide were negatively impacted last year due to Covid-19, Turkey provided medical equipment and vaccine assistance to 157 countries worldwide. In this context, the “Turkey-Albania Friendship Hospital”, which was built in Albania at a cost of 70 million euros, with 150 beds, six operating rooms and six polyclinics, was completed in 68 days and opened on April 21, 2021. .

Turkey was one of the first countries to help its brother country, Albania, after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on November 26, 2019, killing over 50 people, injuring over 3,000 others and damaging the infrastructure of 11 municipalities. Search-and-rescue teams were quickly dispatched to remove Albanian citizens from the rubble. More than 500 houses were built by the Turkish Housing Development Administration (TOK) for the families of the victims in Lac, Albania, in a bid to alleviate at least some of the suffering caused by the quake. The constructed houses will be handed over on January 17, 2022.

Many official Turkish institutions continue their activity in Albania to strengthen our cultural and historical ties.
Considering all this, I can say that the friendly relations between Turkey and Albania are in their most productive period in the political, economic and social field. Given that Turkey is Albania’s most important strategic partner in the region and beyond, there is great potential for both countries to improve their relations. Turkey and Albania need to increase their cooperation in various fields such as tourism, education, defense, digitalization, food, agriculture, livestock, forestry, water and fisheries.

In addition to bilateral relations with Albania, Turkey appreciates Albania’s presence in NATO and also supports the EU membership process, which has stalled in recent years and Turkey serves as one of Albania’s closest friends in the international arena. I hope that Turkey and Albania will sail for brighter days, conveying a relationship of friendship and partnership to future generations based on the win-win principle.

top channel