Prime Minister Edi Rama is paying a two-day official visit to Israel.

Prime Minister Rama was hosted today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. For over two hours the two dignitaries discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, with an emphasis on the sector of energy and water. The meeting focused also on increasing interaction on security issues, and the fight against violent extremism to defend our values and people from this threat.

“It is a big honour for me and a privilege to be here as prime minister of Albania. I am very grateful to you Prime Minister for the invitation. As you said, this year marks the 25th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, but our friendship is based on a fantastic history of the rescue of Jews in Albania during the period of the Nazi occupation, and we are proud to have been a country where no Jew was released to the Nazis, and where the Jews found shelter and protection among Albanians of different religions. There are incredible stories of Muslim families in Albania hosting and protecting Jewish families.

In the same time I am very honoured to be here also because we are going to sign a declaration of friendship, and we are at a time when our relations need to be strengthened also because of the common challenges. We are very and very firm in our position against terrorism and against every form of violent extremism.

Lately we have founded in Albania a regional centre to tackle violent extremism and we are very much keen to work together with you, and shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people to defend our values and our people from the threat of terrorism and of any other form of extremism, in a country that is proud of the religious fraternity and moderation.

Last but not least, of course, we are very happy that we together foresee the possibilities of increasing trade, increasing cooperation in many fields, especially water. And with regard to water, I told your minister that our two countries are the best example of how countries differ not from what they have, but what they know. You do not have the water resources, but you are the best in providing water to yourself, whereas we are very rich in water, but we are far from being the best in making the best out of it.

So, we are very happy to be here and thank you for this great opportunity.” – Prime Minister Rama said in a press release with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Netanyahu appreciated the friendship between the two peoples, which has been particularly prominent in crucial times, and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the contribution of the Albanian people in saving Jews during World War II. “We never forget our friends”, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in his statement.

“Prime Minister Rama, welcome to Jerusalem. You have a towering presence and a distinguished delegation. We’re very happy to see you. We know that Albania is a good friend of Israel. We’re celebrating now 25 years of our relations. We know that the people of Albania are not merely good friends today of the people of Israel but in the crucial period of the Holocaust they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish people persecuted in Europe. I think Albania is the only country whose Jewish population during the Holocaust actually grew because of the refuge and the sanctuary and the friendship and courage showed by the people of Albania. We never forget our friends, and we appreciate that display of humanity, civility and courage in our darkest hours.

It’s therefore a particular pleasure for me to expand our relations today in many concrete areas, and they are legion, they cover a very broad spectrum. They cover trade, they cover investments, and they cover energy, water. We all need water to live and Israel has some experience in dealing with water resources. They cover the questions of security, which occupies and preoccupies countries everywhere. Today there is a looming terrorism that threatens all of us. Israel fights terrorism day in, day out. Israel never lets down its guard. But I think increasingly countries today understand that the problems of international security are intertwined. Terrorism threatens everyone. It is international and the response to it should be international.

These are some of the areas that we’ll be discussing. We’ll be signing some agreements to consolidate and reflect our friendship and it’s in this spirit of friendship that I welcome you Prime Minister Rama to Jerusalem.” – Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

The visit celebrates the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The meeting between the two Prime Ministers and their respective delegations concluded with the signing of the Declaration of Friendship between the two countries, a further engagement between the two countries to deepen relations in all fields of mutual interest, especially in security, including energy security, fight against terrorism, cybercrime, as well as energy, agriculture, culture, tourism and education. This declaration aims at encouraging further economic and trade cooperation, and paves the way for negotiations on the elimination of double taxation.

This Declaration is once more an expression of gratitude of the Israeli part to the Albanian people for their contribution in rescuing the Jews during World War II.

Two other agreements signed are:

– Agreement in the field of health and medical sciences, by means of which the parties undertake to promote the exchange of information and documentation on topics related to health in areas of common interest; Exchange of visits of specialists to improve qualifications and consultations; Exchange of information on medical devices and equipment, pharmaceutical products and technological developments related to medicine and public health; Exchange of information on national conferences, meetings and other events that will take place in each country; Other forms of cooperation in the field of medicine and public health.

– Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Sports and Yad Vashem, the Authority for the Commemoration of the Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust, to cooperate in promoting education and commemorate the Holocaust.