Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj met today with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Discussions in the course of the meeting revolved around areas of common interest, including further advancing of economic and trade relations between the two countries, improving the quality of regional cooperation, and further pursuing interaction at the level of multilateral organisations.

With reference to the meeting, Cakaj started the press conference by expressing profound gratitude to his Turkish counterpart for the Turkish Government’s unstinting support for and full solidarity with Albania from the earliest hours in the aftermath of the earthquake, and on an on-going basis.

‘The stable relationships between our two countries are deep-steated in the historical ties established through intensive bilateral interaction, constructive cooperation at the level of international organisations, and stable partnership within NATO,’ Cakaj pointed out in his speech.

Additionally, the Head of Albanian diplomacy Cakaj expressed appreciation for Turkey’s solid support for the Republic of Kosovo so that the latter strengthens their position internationally, andjoins multilateral organisations.

At the end of the meeting, the parties signed three very important documents:

First, the Agreement on Mutual Recognition and Exchange of Driving Licences, which will help facilitate movement, and eliminate administrative and bureaucratic barriers for using driving licences between Albania and Turkey.

Second, Memorandum of Understanding between the Academies of Diplomacy for the Exchange of Diplomats, which will help build professional capacity, and increase opportunities for exchange of experience between the two countries.

Third, the Joint Statement made by both Ministries, which will help increase efforts in coordinating their positions at the level of international organisations in the fight against organised crime, illegal trafficking, extreme violence, and terrorism.