In meeting commemorating the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, Tirana and Sofia set goals for strong economic cooperation
TIRANA, Jan. 18 – Albania and Bulgaria have celebrated the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties during an official visit of Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in Tirana.
The Bulgarian leader met all top leaders in the country, including his counterpart, Albanian President Bujar Nishani, as well as Prime Minister Edi Rama and Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta. Plevneliev also met with Lulzim Basha, mayor of the capital city Tirana and leader of the country’s political opposition.
“This visit takes place at a significant moment, that of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Albanian-Bulgarian diplomatic relations. Bulgaria was one of the first countries to recognize the new Albanian state and its efforts to survive. And for this we are grateful to you,” Nishani said during the meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart.
In the talks with the local leaders, the Bulgarian president discussed ways to boost relations between Albania and Bulgaria and projects of regional importance.
“Bilateral trade between our countries rose by 13 percent in 2013, but our goal is to further it even more, in the sectors of energy, transport infrastructure and pharmaceutics,” said Plevneliev, who sees agriculture and food production as other strategic sectors, in which companies from the two countries could cooperate.
Rama and Plevneliev voiced their readiness to further deepen and expand bilateral relations and cooperation especially in economic, trade and projects of regional importance.
Plevneliev commending Rama’s fruitful experience and changes brought by him in the capital during his tenure as Tirana mayor, expressed conviction that as a prime minister he will also bring positive changes to the entire country.
Rama expressed gratitude to President Plevneliev for Bulgaria’s support for Albania on its path towards integration into European Union, adding that Albanian government welcomes any further contribution to this process.
Plevneliev assured Rama of Bulgaria’s continued support and readiness to share its expert experience of European integration and thus contribute to Albania’s preparations to join the EU.
The relations between Albania and Bulgaria were established in 1914, whereas their development has been based on the Treaty of Friendship signed in 1993.
Priorities of the Bulgarian policy are aimed at increasing the Western Balkans’ role in regional and European developments by boosting cooperation in Southeast Europe.
A significant component of this cooperation is the implementation of major infrastructure projects such as Corridor VIII, the joining of the energy systems of Bulgaria, Albania and Macedonia into a single energy system. Since its accession to the EU, Bulgaria has supported Albania’s aspiration for EU integration.
The economic and trade relations between Albania and Bulgaria are based on the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation signed in October 2012. Trade exchanges between the two countries in 2013 have amounted to 100 million U.S. dollars.
Plevneliev said partnership between the countries needed to be boosted in fields like food production, transport infrastructure and pharmacy. Speaking to representatives of big Albanian companies, he remarked the bilateral merchandise exchange in 2012 had risen by 18 percent, which was a Euro 60 million increase, when compared with 2011 data.
Almost no Albanian tourists visited Bulgaria 10 years ago, but now their number was some 25,000, about a 17 percent annual increase.
Albanian representatives remarked in a meeting with the Bulgarian delegation that despite having a small territory, the country has a beautiful coastline, petroleum and metal resources as well as water resources, which could attract investment to it.
