President Abdullah Gul and the Turkish delegation determined to further strengthen economic ties with Albania during their two-day visit to they Balkan country. An economic forum would assess and try to boost economic relations between the two countries.
TIRANA, Dec. 10 – Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Thursday started a two-day state visit to Albania along his regional tour which will take him also to Montenegro.
Gul meets with all top Albanian officials and also take part at an economic forum of the two countries held in capital Tirana. Gul was to meet with Albanian President Bamir Topi, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli, Prime Minister Sari Berisha, and leader of the main opposition party Edi Rama. He also attended inauguration of Yunus Emre Turkish Culture Center in Tirana.
Speaking to journalists at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport prior to his departure to Albania, the first stop of his tour of Albania and Montenegro, Gul said his visits to those two countries would be an opportunity to boost bilateral relations and discuss stability in the Balkans.
Turkey has historical, cultural and humanitarian ties with Albania with deep roots in history.
State ministers Selma Aliye Kavaf and Zafer Caglayan, Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergun, parliamentarians and businessmen are also together with the Turkish president.
During his visit and that of the accompanying delegation both sides will discuss bilateral relations to assess them in detail and also seek further cooperation opportunities.
Regional matters were also expected to be present in their talks.
An Albania-Turkey business forum on boosting trade between the two countries will be held in Tirana Friday.
Government and corporate leaders will take part at the forum to share expertise, develop common strategies, and evolve business networks.
Topi said that bilateral friendship has been consolidated in centuries. He also urged government and businesses in both countries to further strengthen their ties.
“President Gul’s visit comes at a very important moment for Albania’s fate which is clearly projected towards the European integration road. The excellent climate of the political relations has imposed over years the increase of the economic cooperation, inter-institutional ties and of Turkish investment in Albania,” said Topi at a joint news conference with Gul.
Topi highly evaluated the presence of the Turkish companies in Albania in the fields of mines, infrastructure, telecommunication, tourism, banking and other areas.
Gul said Albania became a NATO member a short time ago, noting that Turkey would continue to support Albania’s integration to Europe-Atlantic organizations.
Gul will proceed to Montenegro, the first ever Turkish president paying a state visit to Montenegro.
