The protocol was signed by Albanian Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu, and the President of Türkiye’s Higher Education Council Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar during a ceremony as part of the official visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Tirana.

The protocol on opening academic branches and programs of Istanbul Technical University in Tirana represents a crucial step in Albania- Türkiye partnership in higher education and scientific research.

The signing of a bilateral agreement will follow to decide functioning of the academic branches of the Istanbul Technical University in Albania, one of the best and highest technical universities in Europe in the field of engineering and technology, natural sciences and offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

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The Albanian Minister of Interior Taulant Balla and his Kosovo counterpart Xhelal Sveçla on Monday visited the Qafe Morine border crossing point, where they signed a protocol on implementation of joint border checks in joint crossing points of Qafe Morine, Qafe Prush, Shishtavec/Krusheve, Borje/Glloboçice and Orgjost/Orçush.

“The good news is that with the experience we have gained from the free border regime in Morine, we are expanding such a regime to all other border crossing points between the two countries. Local residents from Tropoja and Has will cross now much more freely to Gjakova. The same goes for residents in Kukes and Dragash. The protocol is designed to ensure not only joint border checks to be conducted by Albania’s State Police and the Kosovo State Police, but also to reduce waiting time for travellers on both sides of the border,” Balla stated.

Interior Minister reiterated that Albania and Kosovo citizens undergo no border checks and move freely on both sides of the border.

“We have harvested technology to identify and register all the licence plates via the camera systems so that we can build clear evidence. The good news is that the eased border traffic regime will benefit not only Kosovo and Albanian citizens, but also foreign tourists visiting both countries,” Balla added.

The Interior Minister underlined that the free border traffic regime is a consolidated practice in many countries across Europe.

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The protocol aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the parties for the management of migratory flows from third countries, in accordance with international and European law.

According to this protocol, the Albanian side recognizes to the Italian side the right to use the areas, without compensation for the entire duration of this protocol. The Italian side can create reception structures in these areas.

Also, the parties agree that the total number of migrants present simultaneously in the Albanian territory cannot be higher than 3,000 (three thousand) people. /p.s./