REL: Erdogan promised Albania kamikaze drones

Turkey will donate a "significant" number of kamikaze drones to Albania, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Tirana on Thursday.

"A gift that should not worry anyone, who Albania will hit, but I believe that it is a gift that sums up a clear message from Turkey in relation to this relationship, that Albania is invulnerable", said Rama in a conference joint press conference with Erdogan.

Neither Rama nor Erdogan said exactly how many drones Turkey will donate to its NATO ally. Erdogan, meanwhile, said that in addition to relying on military equipment, Turkey will also help the Albanian army with military training. The Turkish leader - who was officially received by the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, in the Albanian capital - said that he intends to increase the trade volume with Albania to 2 billion dollars. Turkey is among the biggest investors in Albania with about 3.7 billion euros, while more than 15 thousand Albanians are employed by the 830 Turkish companies operating in Albania.

"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.

Rama declared 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.

Prime Minister Rama's office announced earlier that the two countries signed three agreements during a meeting of the high-level Albania-Turkey Cooperation Council. A statement of intent on cooperation in the field of state-supported agricultural insurance between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey. A protocol between the Ministry of Education and Sports of Albania and the High Council of Education of Turkey for the Opening of the Branch, Academic Unit, Study Programs from Istanbul Technical University in Albania.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Media and Information Agency of Albania and the Directorate of Communication of the Presidency of Turkey for cooperation in the field of public relations and communication. The agreement on the declaration on cooperation in the field of agricultural insurance "marks a new stage in the strengthening of bilateral relations in this field", Rama's office said. In 2021, these two countries signed an agreement to establish the high-level Albania-Turkey Cooperation Council, while the first meeting was held in February of this year.

In Ankara, during Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit there on February 20, six agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed in the fields of environment, agriculture, media and military. 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. During his visit to Tirana, Erdogan will also participate in the inauguration of the Namazgja mosque later on Thursday. Regarding its inauguration, Erdogan said in the conference 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 ," Erdogan said.

In this important ceremony for Muslim believers, the head of the Albanian Muslim Community, Bujar Spahiu, will not participate, nor will other leaders. The community will be represented by the mufti of Tirana, Gazmend Teqja, who will also be the head of the Namazgja mosque. In September of this year, a letter from KMSH was made public in the media, where it was stated that this institution agrees that the Mosque of Namazgja be administered through a foundation, which will be "the only authority in this aspect" and will has as its special purpose "taking over the management, administration, operation and use of the mosque indefinitely, as well as the complex around it".

The construction of the mosque started in 2015 and the foundation was laid by the Turkish president, Erdogan. He had stated at that time that the FETO organization has its structures in Albania as well, and that he had asked the heads of the institutions to "eliminate" them. The works were said to be completed in three years, but it took about nine years for the mosque to be inaugurated. The Namazgja Mosque has an area of ​​10,000 square meters and has a capacity for 5,000 believers. It also includes libraries, cultural centers, parking, the course of the holy book, the Koran, the exhibition hall, the canteen, the conference hall, etc./ REL