It has become almost the norm that whenever there are exchanges of high-level visits between Albania and Turkey, the debate about the weight of this relationship reappears on the scene, focusing more on the individual names and the connection with the politics of the day, rather than on the dimension of the relationship between our states and peoples.

Albania and Turkey are friendly countries with an interconnected history and intertwined human relations. Turkey is a strategic regional partner for Albania, not only because of the history between our two peoples, but also for the projection of power that Turkey has, as a member of NATO, G-20, in the Mediterranean and the Balkans. That is why in 2013, we included Turkey in the list of strategic partners in the region, in our governing program. At that time, this decision caused a lot of misunderstandings. But, even today, with all the strength that allows me to have my expertise on this subject, I think our decision was right.

Turkish investments carry a significant share of foreign investments in Albania. Turkey is one of the main trading partners, although the trade deficit is deep in terms of our exports to Turkey. Turkish assistance for the modernization of the armed forces and the increase of security capacities during these three decades has also proved valuable.

In particular, Turkey's commitment stands out in difficult days for Albania, such as the tragic events of 1997; assistance in coping with the humanitarian crisis as a result of the war in Kosovo, during the years 1998-1999; assistance in coping with the emergency and devastating consequences of the 2019 earthquake; health assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as valuable contribution to the reconstruction process, adding value to the friendship between our two peoples.

Given the above, it can be said that the formalization of our strategic partnership with Turkey is a belated act. Suffice it to recall here the fact that Turkey has established a network of high level cooperation with 27 different countries of the world, in line with its profile as a transcontinental country. Strategic partnership does not mean the alignment of visions or the elimination of differences, but implies the need to be involved in more structured dialogue processes where the interests of the parties are examined and implemented. For example, there has been a High Level Council between Turkey and Greece since 2010, while the differences between these countries are notorious.

Despite the strategic relationship, Albania and Turkey are not aligned on all issues in foreign and security policy. In many cases in the international arena, Albania and Turkey have had different stances. It is a well-known fact that Albania's decision-making is always aligned with the EU and oriented by international commitments. The same can be said for the cultural differences between us that translate into state-religion-nation-political ideology, relations. Hence, on the one hand, we should be grateful for the support that Turkey has given us, but on the other hand, we should be careful not to allow the transfer of the influence of domestic politics in interstate relations.

Critics of Turkey's engagement in the region mistakenly place it in the same basket as the engagement of external powers, which pursue disruptive agendas in our region. Geographically, a part of the territory of Turkey, with extraordinary political influence, is part of the Balkans. It should not be forgotten that Turkey and the Balkans share the experience of modernization, Europeanization, nation and state-building, which has been accompanied by uncertainty and trauma. The Balkans were essential to the Ottoman Empire's interaction with the West and modernization efforts. After the creation of nation-states in the Balkans that accompanied the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey continued its bilateral and multilateral engagement in the region, despite the waves of geopolitics.

As a NATO member, a candidate for EU membership and above all, as a party to the Customs Union with the EU, Turkey sees with interest the membership of the Western Balkan countries in the EU, also as an opportunity for market expansion. Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, three EU member states and part of the Balkans, make Turkey one of the main importers.

Complicated relations with the West, freezing of the EU membership process, and dramatic developments around Turkey have naturally reawakened the latter's imperial impulses. Coincidentally or not, the freezing of Turkey's Europeanization process now coincides with the freezing of the Europeanization process of the Western Balkan countries. Despite the effect of the above trends on Turkey and the Western Balkan countries, institutional interaction, political relations and economic exchanges with the EU remain solid. This creates space for a greater interaction between the EU and Turkey in our region as well, considering its role complementary with that of the EU.

Viewed in this context, our bilateral relations should not be seen from the prism of the politics of the day, as this relationship is further strengthened if it is based on mutual interest and exigencies, consolidating our European belonging and secularism, which are the DNA of our nation.