Turkey, Albania sign 7 pacts to strengthen bilateral ties

By Mumin Altas and Ferdi Turkten

TIRANA, Albania (AA) - Turkiye and Albania on Monday signed seven new agreements to boost cooperation between the two countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama took part in the signing ceremony of the agreements in various areas, including disaster and emergency management, the media, state archives, culture and art, security, and youth and sports.

A cooperation agreement in media was signed between Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s leading news source, and the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, Albania’s official multimedia news agency.

The deal was inked by Anadolu Agency Director General Serdar Karagoz and Valbona Zhupa, his counterpart at Albanian Telegraphic Agency.

The ceremony took place ahead of a joint press conference between Erdogan and Rama following one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings.

Erdogan arrived in the capital Tirana early Monday and was welcomed by Rama with an official ceremony.

Earlier on Monday, Erdogan attended a handover ceremony for over 500 housing units a Turkish agency built for earthquake victims in Albania.

Erdogan is visiting at the invitation of the Albanian premier accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, and Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

During his visit, all aspects of the strategic partnership between Turkiye and Albania and steps to enhance bilateral cooperation are expected to be discussed.

Erdogan will also inaugurate the historic 18th century Hajji Ethem Bey Mosque in the capital Tirana, recently restored by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara.