TIRANA (A.A) - 23.05.2002 - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that Albania has an important place in Turkey's foreign policy, adding, ''Turkey has tried to sincerely assist Albania in every field after the change of regime. This assistance will continue.''
The meeting between President Sezer and his Albanian counterpart Rexhep Mejdani lasted nearly two hours.
After the meeting, Sezer and Mejdani presided the meeting between the Turkish and Albanian delegations. At the end of this meeting, a Joint Economic Commission protocol which foresees increase of bilateral economic relations was signed. The protocol was signed by State Minister Faruk Bal and Albanian Agriculture and Food Minister Agron Duka.
Sezer and Mejdani later held a joint press conference.
Sezer said that his talks with Mejdani were very constructive and beneficial, stressing that there was not any problem in Turkey-Albania relations which were based on mutual respect and confidence.
Noting that there was a productive cooperation between the two countries an international level, Sezer said that kinship and cultural ties between the Turkish and Albanian peoples enrich the bilateral relations.
Stating that they had also discussed how the cooperation between the two countries could be consolidated, Sezer said, ''we determined that there are fields appropriate for development especially in our economic relations. We reiterated our determination in utilization of these opportunities.''
Sezer recalled that Mejdani and he would attend Friday's meeting of the Turkish-Albanian Business Council.
Noting that they had also taken up regional and international issues, Sezer said, ''we were pleased with once again seeing that we have similar opinions about international issues. Our meeting took place in a period during which positive developments are occurring in the Balkans and hopeful steps are being taken in resettlement of democratization, stability and atmosphere of mutual confidence in the region. Albania has an important position in the Balkans and it contributes to stability in the region. Albania's peaceful, commonsensical, moderate and prudent policy will play an important role in consolidation of peace and stability in the region and integration of the region with the European-Atlantic institutions.''
Noting that Turkey was pleased with Albania's influential role in the Southeast European Countries Cooperation Process, Sezer said that he was sure that Albania would show the same determination during its Black Sea Economic Cooperation term presidency.
Stressing that the steps taken by Albania on the NATO membership path would be welcomed at the NATO Summit Meeting in november in Prague, Sezer said that Turkey adopted the NATO's open-door policy and thought that expansion would not be concluded before membership of all southeast European countries.
Meanwhile, Rexhep Mejdani said that Sezer's visit was an expression of good relations between the two countries and their peoples.
Noting that they had similar opinions about the current level of bilateral relations, Mejdani said that they had determined that opportunities of cooperation could be developed.
''The Turkish government can give aid up to eighty million U.S. dollars until 2003 under military cooperation. We will maintain our cooperation in traikning of our soldier and officers. The military industry will regain its functions. We will continue our cooperation in fight against terrorism. We will ask for our participation in the Turkish troops in Afghanistan,'' Mejdani said.
Stating that they wanted to continue cooperating also in field of education, Mejdani said that they had also discussed the issue of signing a free trade agreement, adding that they should reach the level of bilateral military and political relations also in economic and commercial relations.
Stressing that many Albanian sick people had been treated in Turkey and the Turkish government had contributed to cost of those medical treatments, Mejdani added that Turkey had also assisted foundation of health centers in Albania.