In the joint speech of the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kosovo was also discussed. Rama said that Kosovo cannot find a better friend than Turkey and Erdogan. The Turkish president will visit Serbia after Albania
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, inaugurated a mosque financed by Turkey in Tirana during a visit to Albania on Thursday to increase cooperation with its NATO ally.
Turkish leader Erdogan also promised Albania an unspecified number of kamikaze drones to help boost Albania's Armed Forces.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeErdogan first met with the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, in the capital of Albania, and then with Prime Minister Edi Rama. After the meetings of the high officials of both countries, the parties signed three agreements in the fields of education and agriculture.
Erdogan said that he intends to increase the annual trade volume with Albania to 2 billion dollars.
"We see the initiatives in the field of trade and investments as steps that will increase the welfare of the people. We agreed to diversify mutual investments, including innovative sectors", said Erdogan in a joint conference with Rama.
Turkey is among the biggest investors in Albania, with around 3.7 billion euros, while more than 15 thousand Albanians are employed by the 830 Turkish companies operating in Albania.
Rama has stated that he agreed with Erdogan for more direct investments from the Turkish side in the tourism sector in Albania.
"Today we signed several agreements. The most welcome is the signing of the agreement for the Technical University of Istanbul in Tirana. We are very interested and very satisfied today in strengthening the Albanian army and strengthening this relationship in the military aspect", said Rama.
Since the coming to power of the Socialist Party, Prime Minister Rama has described Turkey as a strategic partner and has declared that the cooperation between the two countries will reach previously unknown levels.
Inauguration of Namazgja mosque
During his visit to Tirana, Erdogan also participated in the inauguration of the Namazgja mosque, which is one of the largest in the Balkans.
Regarding its inauguration, Erdogan said that the mosque "is a gift of the Turkish people to the Albanian brothers and sisters".
"It is the biggest mosque in the Balkans and it will be the place where the spirit of peace and solidarity will flourish", said Erdogan.
In September of this year, a letter from KMSH was made public, stating that this institution agrees that the Mosque of Namazgja be administered through a foundation, which will be the "sole authority in this aspect" and will have its special purpose is "taking over the management, administration, operation and use of the mosque, as well as the complex around it, without a deadline".
The construction of the mosque began in 2015 and the foundation was laid by Erdogan, who said at the time that the FETO organization also has its structures in Albania and that he had asked the heads of the institutions to "eliminate" them.
On Thursday, he said that he also discussed with Rama the issue of joint war against terrorist organizations "especially against FETO".
"We hope to continue our fight against terrorist organizations effectively through the decisions we made today," Erdogan said.
The Namazgja Mosque has an area of 10.000 square meters and has a capacity for 5.000 believers.
Libraries, cultural centers, parking lot, holy book course, Koran, exhibition hall, canteen, conference hall, etc. are part of it.
Rama: Kosovo does not find a better friend than Turkey
Kosovo was also discussed in the joint speech.
Prime Minister Rama has said that Kosovo cannot find a better friend than Turkey and Erdogan.
"After this visit, the president will leave for Belgrade. I bring this to your attention for a historical fact. When Erdogan was prime minister, Turkey was the first to recognize Kosovo. It was a recognition in real time, in sync with the Parliament of Kosovo. An indisputable friend in all days like Turkey and President Erdogan, the Republic of Kosovo cannot be found anywhere", said Rama.
After Albania, Erdogan will visit Serbia. (REL)