Interview of Director of Tirana Times Jerina Zaloshnja
with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Albania
1. You have headed the Balkan Department at the Turkish Foreign Ministry. What was your general understanding and thinking on Albania before being appointed here as ambassador?
Albania is one of the friendliest countries for Turkey and one of the key and indispensable political actors of the region. Decisions regarding regional issues and overall Balkans cannot be formulated without taking Albania’s view into consideration.
Personally Albania and Albanians always remind me of friendship.
2. Now that you have been in Albania for some time do you have another impression about it?
Having completed the first six months of my mission in Albania, the impression that I had obtained while heading the Balkans Affairs department in Ankara, has not changed; but it has gained some valuable dimensions. I used to think of Albania as an important country in the region; today focusing more deeply, I can say that it is also an important factor of the Balkan equilibrium.
I also realized that Turkey and Albania have very close cultural and social relations that have deep roots in the history.
3. Traditionally, Turkey has had friendly relations with Albania despite the regime before the nineties. Could you please tell us more about today’s essence of the bilateral relations between the two countries?
Our bilateral relations have been very friendly throughout history. Even during the era when Albania chose a solitary stance in the world, our cooperation continued on the basis of a number of bilateral agreements.
Today we are enjoying perfect relations in almost every sphere, mainly in political, economic and cultural fields.
Our close historical and cultural ties provide the most favorable atmosphere for the communication and cooperation of the Turkish and Albanian people.
While we are enjoying perfect bilateral relations and having similar political visions towards Europe and the entire international community Turkey and Albania also share the same approach with regard to the Balkan issues.
We are cooperating within the framework of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) with the aim of reinforcing peace and stability in the region. Furthermore, we are supporting each other’s positions with regard to NATO, EU and other international fora.
4. What is today’s economic agenda between the two countries and which would be your suggestions about the areas of further extending the existing cooperation?. Let’s talk about the Turkish investments in Albania. Nowadays there is a strong presence of Turkish investments in infrastructure and telecommunication. Which would be the perspective?
Our bilateral trade volume reached 342 million US dollars last year and grew almost threefold in the past five years. However, it goes without saying that we need to further increase our economic and trade relations and fully use the potential existing in these areas.
The bilateral Free Trade Agreement will not only constitute a firm basis for the growth of trade volume, but is also expected to exert a multiplier effect on investments and joint ventures. Turkish investments in Albania stood at a mere some 40 million US dollars a few years ago. Now the figure has reached to about 1 billion US dollar making Turkey the third biggest investing country in Albania.
Currently there are around 80 Turkish investments in Albania. Albtelecom, Eaglemobile, Alpet, BKT Bank , Universal Hospital, the Turgut Ozal Private Schools and the EPOKA university and the Kurum Holding’s investments are either the biggest ones or largest in their own sectors.
Today we are one of Albania biggest trade partners. However, we find the present volume of both economic and trade relations far below their actual potential and we would like to boost them. That’s the reason why President Abdullah G
