“I am very delighted to visit Albania again, with which we maintain strong historical and human ties,” Erdogan said in his address to Albanian Parliament.

“3 weeks ago we welcomed in Turkey Parliament Speaker, Mrs. Nikolla. We shared views on how to improve our inter-parliamentary relations in the future. We agreed that increasing contacts and cooperation between our MPs will contribute to further development of our relations,” said Erdogan.

“Immediately after the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, one of the first agreements was signed with Albania and this agreement, which is called the eternal agreement of friendship and cooperation, contains and reveals that our relations are not only between states, but also between our people, peoples and communities,” Erdogan said.

“Although there are physical borders between us, for us Albania is a neighbor close to our heart, our relations are rooted in a long and strong history that spans almost 6 centuries. The traces of our common history are not only in political life. You can find them in the stone buildings of Shkodra,” he said.

Erdogan added that “with the joint political statement signed during Prime Minister Rama’s official visit to Turkey earlier last year, we have officially brought our relations to the level of strategic partnership.”

“From now on we will continue to contribute to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries, the region and the world,” Erdogan said.

“When Turkey and Albania join hands with the permission of the almighty God, there will be no problem that they cannot overcome or solve. As long as we strongly defend the brotherhood, the inclusive approach, our common goals and our determination to advance our cooperation, I sincerely believe that together we will not allow anyone to ruin this beautiful and enjoyable landscape we see all together,” said Erdogan.

He added that, “creating a permanent environment of peace, trust and stability in the Balkans, ensuring good neighborly relations and regional co-operation are among the top priorities of Turkish foreign policy. In this regard, we appreciate the constructive role that Albania has played in the Balkans. And for the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state even by NATO allies, which have also made a very special contribution. So the role of Albania, which has been served in the Balkans, has really been very constructive.”

“We are in exemplary solidarity with Albania in the process of Southeast Europe cooperation, which is the only forum in the Balkans that reflects the common will and the unique voice of the Balkans. The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization is another regional platform on which we show solidarity. Only in these examples it is possible to see clearly the role played by Turkey and Albania in guaranteeing peace and stability in the region.”

Erdogan congratulated Albania on its non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council, which it took over on January 1, 2022. We will also have the pleasure to share with Albania our experience during our term in the past.

The Turkish nation stands by the Albanian people with all the forces, means, opportunities, as it has always been. In fact, Turkey was the first country to provide the most effective, most sincere aid to Albania in the aftermath of 2019 earthquake and especially during the COVID-19 breakout in 2020,” Erdogan said.

“In the framework of the cooperation agreement, the ‘Turkovac’ vaccine, which the Turkish state has developed, will be soon made available to Albania and the Albanian brothers,” he said.
Erdogan said that, “parallel to this development last April, we set into operation the hospital of Turkey-Albania friendship in Fier, which we completed in a record time of 68 days especially for our Albanian brothers.”

“Today we handed over the apartments and housing units that we have built in Laç. The fact that these contributions brought joy to our Albanian brothers, healed the wounds opened by the earthquake makes us happy,” Erdogan said.

“Our country, NGOs, the business world will continue to stand by Albania in every field it needs. We also sincerely believe that our Albanian friends will take into account the sensitivities of Turkey,” said Erdogan, adding that, “the fight against the terrorist organization FETO, which attempted a coup d’etat in our country, attacked democracy, bombed the parliament and the Assembly of the Republic of Turkey as well as massacred our people, is one of our sensitivities to which we pay special attention. And unfortunately the members of this organization even 5 years after the coup attempt in our country, continue to be in Albania, to show their existence in every field, in the field of education, health, in religious institutions and in a significant part of the private sector. ”

“Unless you act immediately in time, it is inevitable that similar attempts of this structure in our country will be repeated here in Albania. We have experienced and seen a lot of this organization, we as a country, as Turkey, have really paid a very heavy cost. We consider it our duty to express ourselves, wherever we go, to tell our brothers, our friends, so that they do not have the same fate that we experienced before. We expect Albania to take immediate measures against the structure of FETO in the country and not allow our relations to be overshadowed for this reason,” said Erdogan.
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