The vaccines were received on Monday morning at the “Mother Teresa” International Airport by Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Eugena Tomini, and the Ambassador of Greece to Albania, Sophia Philippidou.

The vaccines arrived in Rinas Airport by private flight and were escorted by Alexandros Diakopoulos, Director General for International Aid at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In an interview with the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, Diakopoulos said that the delivery of vaccines today is the first that Greece sends to another country in the frame of bilateral relations.

He said that these vaccines come from Greek Civil Protection.

“Today, 20,000 vaccines have arrived. This is the first shipment from Greece to another country as part of bilateral relations. “Albania is the first country and I think this is significant,” said Diakopoulos.

“Albania is very close to us, geographically, historically and ethnically. So it is very important and we are very pleased to send the first shipment of vaccines to this country, ” he told ATA.
Asked if there will be more vaccine shipments from Greece in the coming months, Diakopoulos said: “I do not know, it all depends on availability because Greece contributes through the COVAX facility and Team Europe.” This is bilateral and depends on availability.
Given the decline in cases of COVID infections in Albania and the relaxed restrictions in Albania, he said that Greece will ease the rules on border crossing for Albanian citizens.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ogerta Manastirliu, through a posting on social networks announced the arrival at Mother Teresa Airport of 20 thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, a donation from the Greek government to Albania, expressing gratitude to Greece for its support. “The Albanian government expresses its commitment to continue apace with the vaccination rollout to protect the life of every citizen,” said Manastirliu.

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