Prime Minister Edi Rama met today in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Discussions in the meeting focused on the security situation in the region as part of the common challenge against terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis as a result of the escalation of the conflict in Syria, and the need to further develop the excellent relations between Albania and Turkey.

President Erdoğan praised the work of the Albanian State Police in the fight against crime and drug trafficking, the particular success of Albania in the energy reform, the battle for the formalization of the economy, as well as the courage of the Albanian government for the major reforms that have allowed Albania to enter the path of building a serious state.

The issue of the development of the water sector took a special place. President Erdoğan assured the Prime Minister on the provision of special support for specific investment programs, both for drinking water and irrigation and drainage water in agricultural areas. A set of concrete actions were also defined to strengthen health and education infrastructure through public-private partnerships.