TIRANA, May 13 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an official visit to Albania this week, setting plans to double the volume of economic ties and overseeing the signing of a new security agreement.
The countries’ two interior ministers signed a cooperation agreement in the field of regional security in the presence of the two presidents.
“In the Balkans there are those who want to violate peace and security,” President Erdogan said in a joint press conference with Albanian President Bujar Nishani. “We place great emphasis on peace, stability and prosperity of the Balkans.”
Following armed clashes that left 22 people dead over the weekend, both presidents urged for progress in Macedonia based on the implementation of the 2001 Ohrid Agreement that gave ethnic Albanian citizens of that country more rights.
The security agreement also includes more cooperation to stop the flow of foreign fighters to conflicts in the Middle East.
Turkish President Erdogan also met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, with whom he discussed the economic cooperation between the two countries.
Albania-Turkey trade exchanges are about 500 million dollars per year, ranking Turkey fourth in terms of trade with Albania. There are also 296 Turkish companies currently operating in this country, with a total investment of 2.7 billion dollars.
The two presidents also attended the Turkey-Albania Partnership Business Forum with the aim of increasing the trade and investment figures.
Erdogan and his host, President Nishani, also marked the symbolic start of construction of a new large mosque in Tirana that the Turkish Muslim community is helping finance.
The Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs is helping finance the Namazgja Mosque, a 10,000 meters square complex that will accommodate 4,500 worshipers.
Erdogan said he hoped he would be able to pray in the new mosque in two years time.
Practicing Muslims have sought a large mosque in Tirana for two decades, and had to pray in the streets on large religious holidays.
The start of work has brought great joy to the community, said Tirana Mufti Ylli Gurra.
Beside the mosque, Turkey has also offered to help fund the construction of a new Albanian parliament and the reconstruction of part of the historic quarters in Gjirokaster, where 40 characteristic houses are in need of restoration.
Strategic partnership agreement planed
Albania and Turkey will sign a strategic partnership deal focusing on trade cooperation, Prime Minister Rama announced during his meeting with President Erdogan.
“The cooperation and strategic relationship Albania has with Turkey will see a new push in a series of fields first and foremost in boosting trade cooperation but also in issues related to security, rural development, education, health and culture,” said Rama.
President Erdogan urged for a quick signing of a strategic partnership agreement.
“We were supposed to sign the strategic agreement between the countries when I was a prime minister, but I didn’t manage to because of the (mine) tragedy. Now I am here as Turkey’s president, but I hope that both Prime Ministers will conclude this deal as soon as possible,” said Erdogan.
Erdogan had scheduled to visit Albania in May 2014 when he was Turkey’s prime minister, but the visit was postponed due to a mine tragedy killing hundreds in Turkey.
In an earlier meeting with President Nishani, Erdogan appealed for a boost in trade exchanges between the two countries.
“Trade relations between the two countries must develop faster. I wish that trade exchanges between the two countries increase to $1 billion compared to a current $430 million annually,” said Erdogan.
President Nishani also stressed the need for more Turkish investments in Albania and rising trade exchanges.
“Turkey was Albania’s fourth biggest trading partner in 2014. Trade exchanges between the two countries in the past five years have considerably increased and foreign direct investment by Turkey and contracted services have reached over $1 billion. Some 296 Turkish companies operate in Albania mainly in steel, telecommunication, banking and mining sectors,” he said.
In a separate meeting with Turkish investors, Albania’s Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri urged Turkish companies to consider new investment opportunities in energy, oil and mining and assist in Albania’s gasification ahead of the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline bringing Caspian gas to Europe.
Turkish businesses are constantly increasing their presence in Albania. Turkey’s Calik Group, which is present in Albania with Albtelecom, Eagle Mobile and Banka Kombetare Tregtare (BKT Bank), is the most successful Turkish investor in Albania.
Other investments include a steel plant in Elbasan and several hydropower plants run by Turkey’s Kurum company.
Gulen reference causes debate
Another major Turkish contribution in Albania has come through the Turgut Özal Education Company, which has also established the system of Turkish primary and high schools in Albania since 1992 and most recently the Epoka University.
However, without mentioning the company by name or the Gulen movement with which it is affiliated, President Erdogan said he had called on Albanian leaders to close the schools up calling them a “parallel system” that can be substituted by Turkish government schools.
The movement’s opposition to the Turkish government has led to internal problems between its supporters and Erdogan’s party in Turkey, and several Albanian analysts found President Erdogan’s comments inappropriate, urging Turkish politicians not to export their internal political problems to Albania.
Albanian Member of Parliament Ben Blushi said Thursday in parliament the schools were widely respected in Albania and accepting a demand for their closure would undermine the country’s sovereignty. He urged the country’s leaders to deny the request.
