Türkiye is an inseparable part of the Balkans, and the Balkans are an indispensable region of interest for Türkiye. Türkiye's view of the Balkans is shaped by common history and culture. Especially over the last two decades, Türkiye has been doing its best to foster tighter and more amicable relations with the Balkan countries. Albania is at the center of this perspective. Türkiye sees Albania both as a friend and as a natural ally. Türkiye believes that the increase in welfare and stability in Albania will serve peace and tranquility in the entire region. In this respect, Türkiye has always firmly supported the development and security of friendly and brotherly Albania with the most heartfelt and sincere feelings, and is determined to do so in the future.

As a result of this will, Albania has become one of the Balkan countries with which Türkiye's relations are the most stable and positive. In the context of the "high-level political dialogue" principle of Turkish foreign policy, relations with Albania are diversifying and deepening every year.

Cooperation in social, cultural and economic fields is increasing every year. The agreements signed during Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit to Türkiye on January 6, 2021 have been a new and historic starting point. As a result of this visit, the Joint Political Declaration on the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, which has been on the agenda for years, was signed between Türkiye and Albania, and the relations between the two countries were raised to the level of strategic partnership.

In addition, a protocol on the restoration of the Kur?unlu Mosque, one of the Ottoman period monuments, in Shkodra by the Directorate General of Foundations, and a cooperation agreement between the education ministers of the two countries were signed. Agreement on education offers the opportunity to choose a Turkish course in Albania and an Albanian course in Türkiye, as well as special education, educational technologies, scholarships, and teacher exchange programs. We see these developments as a great opportunity to strengthen cultural, political and commercial relations between the two countries.

Even while going through such a difficult period when the world's economies are grappling with the pandemic, Türkiye's foreign trade with 11 Balkan countries surged by 37% year on year in 2021. We expect commercial relations to grow exponentially in the coming period.

Currently, the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Albania is around 700 million dollars. Our primary goal is to expand this volume to around 1 billion dollars as soon as possible.

Türkiye has investments of over 3.5 billion dollars in Albania, including contracting services. The contribution of the Free Trade Agreement, which has been in effect since 2008, in developing commercial relations and achieving these figures has been great. Nearly 600 registered Turkish companies operate in Albania, and these companies not only contribute to production, but also provide employment for approximately 15 thousand people. With these figures, Türkiye is one of the largest foreign investors in Albania.

The relations between our countries are noteworthy for their humanitarian as well as commercial dimensions. With the pandemic, health diplomacy and health investments have given a new impetus to the relations between the two countries. Although mutual trade and tourism activities around the world were adversely affected last year due to the Covid-19, Türkiye provided medical equipment and vaccine aid to 157 countries around the world. In this context, the “Türkiye-Albania Fier Friendship Hospital”, which was built in Albania with a cost of 70 million Euros, with 150 beds, six operating theaters and six polyclinics, was completed in 68 days and opened on April 21, 2021.

Türkiye was one of the first countries to lend a helping hand to brother country Albania following the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on 26 November 2019, killing over 50 people, injuring over 3000 others, and damaging the infrastructure of 11 municipalities. Search and rescue teams were quickly dispatched to rescue Albanian citizens from the rubble. More than 500 houses were built by the Housing Development Administration of Türkiye (TOK?) for the families of the victims in Laç, Albania, in an effort to at least alleviate some of the suffering caused by the earthquake. The houses built will be delivered on January 17, 2022.

Many official institutions of Türkiye continue their activities in Albania in order to strengthen our cultural and historical ties.

TIKA has carried out 546 projects and activities in Albania since 1996. Primarily, it supports the restoration of numerous historical artifacts in Albania. In addition, it provides financial support for the improvement of agriculture, animal husbandry, health, education as well as municipal services that will contribute to the cooperation between Türkiye and Albania.

The Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) offers scholarships to students from the Balkans to study in Türkiye, under the brand "Türkiye Scholarships". Türkiye Scholarships received 165,511 applications from 178 countries in 2021. Today, 15,000 students from 170 countries are studying in Türkiye. Albanian students benefit greatly from these scholarships and continue their education activities in Türkiye.

Yunus Emre Institute opened its first office in Sarajevo and quickly spread to all the Balkans. The Institute has two offices in Albania, in Shkodra and Tirana. Our Albanian brothers and sisters who want to learn Turkish and learn more about Turkish culture and art can find a wealth of support in these offices.

Türkiye considers it a duty to contribute to the education services in Albania. The Turkish Maarif Foundation, which has 416 educational institutions and over 50 thousand students around the world, has eight schools in Albania. We hope to increase the number of schools even further in the future.

In addition to all these commercial and humanitarian aspects, Türkiye and Albania also provide an important example of cooperation in the field of security. Albania is the first purchaser of an anti-drone system produced by a Turkish company, and the Albanian Parliament and Ministry of Defense announced that it approved an additional budget of 9.7 million dollars (8.2 million Euros) for the supply of Turkish UAVs and UCAVs.

Contacts between the two countries were also increased on security issues such as terrorism, human and drug trafficking. In addition, when necessary, cooperation with the relevant security forces and interior ministries is carried out in the fight against cyber and digital crimes.

In bilateral ties, Türkiye consistently emphasizes its determination to a joint struggle against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which still exists in Albania. Consultations are being held with the relevant Albanian authorities in order to restrict the activities of this terrorist organization in Albania and to hand over its members to Türkiye. The fact that such a treacherous organization, which attempted a coup d'etat in Türkiye, operates in Albania both upsets the Turkish people and makes them consider the likelihood of similar acts in Albania.

Taking all of this into account, I can say that the amicable relations between Türkiye and Albania are in their most productive period in political, economic and social fields. Considering that Türkiye is the most important strategic partner of Albania in the region and beyond, there are numerous potential for the two countries to improve their relations. Türkiye and Albania should increase their cooperation in different fields such as tourism, education, defense, digitalization, food, agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, water and fisheries.

In addition to its bilateral relations with Albania, Türkiye values Albania's presence in NATO and also supports the EU membership process, which has come to a standstill in recent years, and Türkiye serves as one of Albania's closest friends in the international arena. I hope that Türkiye and Albania will set sail for brighter days, passing on a friendship and partnership relationship to future generations based on the win-win principle. / ADN

*This article of H.E., Mr. President of the Republic of Türkiye, is published on the eve of his visit to Albania on 17 January