ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Monday that Turkey would do its best for Albania's joining NATO without any delay at the right time and Turkey would continue to support this country in all fields.
Speaking after the tete-a-tete and interdelegationary meetings with Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, Sezer said that there were no political problems between the two countries and that the two countries had similar views and approaches about regional and international issues.
Noting that they reviewed in details the economic and commercial relations between the two countries in the meetings, Sezer said that they stressed once again their common resolution to encourage reciprocally private sectors. ''We believe that our countries have broad opportunities to improve the bilateral trade on a balanced way,'' Sezer said. Sezer pointed out that they exchanged views about regional and international issues during the meetings, adding that Albania was a country which contributed to the stability of the Balkans and which had a special place in Turkish foreign policy.
The peaceful and balanced policy pursued by Albania contributed to the strengthening of stability and cooperation, said Sezer and noted that Turkey was pleased with Albania's starting stability and partnership agreement negotiations with the EU.
Sezer said that the visit of Albanian President presented the concrete opportunity of further developing the cooperation between the two countries particularly in economic and cultural relations, pointing out that the agreement signed in air transportation would contribute to improvement of bilateral relations. Sezer said that the negotiations were held in a constructive and sincere atmosphere.
The guest President Alfred Moisiu said in his part that the meetings were held in a very positive atmosphere, adding that they exchanged views about political, military and economic issues.
Moisiu thanked Turkey for its support to Albania's membership to NATO.
Noting that Turkey and Albania played important roles for ensuring stability atmosphere in the Balkans, Moisiu invited Turkish companies to take part in privatization of strategic institutions in Albania. Moisiu added that they also took up the issue of eighth corridor in the meetings, adding that the corridor concerned all countries from which the corridor would pass.
Moisiu invited Sezer to his country next year.
Meanwhile Transportation Minister Binali Yýldýrým signed on behalf of Turkey the air transportation agreement between the two countries.
(ÖS-BRC) 26.05.2003