Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed today in a meeting the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the delegation accompanying him. The Turkish President was accompanied in this visit by investors, representatives of important companies in his country that are present also in Albania.

Prime Minister Rama and President Erdoğan held a joint press conference.

Prime Minister Edi Rama:

Mr. President and I had a long conversation and covered a wide range of issues of mutual cooperation, in addition to having the pleasure of this meeting that was prevented by the mine tragedy of last year, although this time Mr. Erdoğan is paying his visit as President of the Republic of Turkey.

It was a pleasure to note that the collaboration already started and the strategic relationship between Albania and Turkey will get an additional boost in a number of areas, and in view of this, we emphasized first of all the need to further increase trade exchanges and cooperation in the fields of security, rural development, education, health and, of course, culture.

After the conclusion of the election campaign in Turkey, it will be a pleasure for us to have a bilateral meeting of our governments, a joint meeting, in which we will sign the document of strategic partnership.

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:

Thank you for your hospitality. I came here upon invitation of the President, but we felt at home as soon as we step foot on the Albanian land.

I am convinced that after this meeting, which was to take place when I was Prime Minister, with Mr. Rama who is a dear and close friend, Albania and Turkey will make very important and very fruitful steps.

The strategic agreement between our two countries was to be signed together with Mr. Rama when I was Prime Minister, but we couldn’t do it because of the tragedy in Soma.

I am here now as President of Turkey, but I believe that the Prime Ministers of Albania and Turkey will meet in a very short time and sign this agreement as soon as possible.

Shortly after, together with Mr. President we will lay the foundations of the mosque of Namazgja. While, as far as the reconstruction, the renewal of the Parliament building is concerned, it will be a turning point because TİKA will work very seriously to finalize this project as soon as possible, since the architectonical part is now ready.

Afterwards we will go to Prezë to inaugurate the mosque within the walls of the castle.

Thank you very much!