(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Türkiye and Albania are expected to ink a number of deals at the
upcoming high-level strategic cooperation council meeting, Foreign
Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday, reports citing
.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Albanian
counterpart Olta Xhacka, Cavusoglu hailed the strong ties between
the two countries while noting that they addressed the upcoming
high-level strategic cooperation council meeting.
Without giving a date for the meeting, Cavusoglu said they have
carried out negotiations on some agreements to be signed at the
meeting as they continue to discuss others.
Renewable energy, transportation networks, the defense industry,
cybersecurity, health and agriculture are among the topics to be
addressed at the council's meeting, according to the Turkish
minister.
On bilateral trade volume, Cavusoglu said Türkiye expects it to
exceed $1 billion in 2022 considering 'the numbers from the first
eight months of this year.'
He also voiced a desire to hold Joint Economic Commission, which
was held two years ago.
'As Türkiye, we are number one in Albania with the investments
we have done in the country,' he added.
The two officials also addressed ways to further enhance ties in
other sectors including the defense industry as Cavusoglu voiced
Türkiye's readiness to strengthen Albania's defense capacity.
'We have also discussed the issue of FETO,' said Cavusoglu,
referring to the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) behind the 2016
defeated coup in Türkiye, which he warned was not just a threat to
Türkiye but also other countries where the organization is
active.
He also said Ankara expects Tirana to complete the judicial
process for the fugitive Turkish crypto exchange founder whose
fifth trial will be held on Nov. 10.
Faruk Fatih Ozer, 27, sought on charges of fraud and founding a
criminal organization, fled Türkiye last year and left investors
unable to access their money.
Türkiye issued an international arrest warrant after he fled
with a reported $2 billion in money investors poured into
Thodex.
The Turkish foreign minister also hailed Albania's role at the
U.N. Security Council and expressed his country's will to provide
all means of support.
For her part, Xhacka praised the strong ties between Türkiye and
Albania and thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the
Turkish people for their support to Albania 'in its difficult
times.'
Welcoming the increasing economic ties between Türkiye and
Albania, Xhacka said it still does not reflect the actual trade
potential between the two countries.
'We are hopeful for the future of ties,' she added.
On the mutual recognition and exchange of driving permits, the
Albanian minister voiced hope the that the initiative will also be
officially adopted in Türkiye.
She also shared with her Turkish counterpart the concerns and
threats that the Western Balkans are facing, as she noted the role
Ankara will play in the stability of the Balkans.