UPDATE - Turkiye, Albania sign 7 pacts to strengthen bilateral ties

REVISES HEADLINE, ADDS REMARKS FROM GENERAL DIRECTORS OF ANADOLU AGENCY AND ALBANIAN TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY

By Mumin Altas, Ferdi Turkten and Dzihat Aliju

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama took part in the signing ceremony for 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 the field of media was signed between Anadolu Agency, Turkiye’s leading news source, and the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, Albania’s official multimedia news agency.

The deal was signed by Anadolu Agency Director General Serdar Karagoz and Valbona Zhupa, his counterpart at the 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.

Speaking on the deal, Karagoz said on Twitter: “I believe that the agreement will further improve cooperation between our agencies and contribute to the correct transfer of information between the two countries.”

Zhupa also shared her thoughts on Twitter, saying: “The renewal of the cooperation agreement between @ATAgoval and our Turkish counterpart @anadoluagency reaffirms the continued collaboration and sharing of information between our two countries.”

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

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

Erdogan is visiting at the invitation of the Albanian premier and is being 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 Et’hem Bey Mosque in the capital Tirana, which was recently restored by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz and Merve Berker in Ankara