Turkey sees Albania as the pivot of peace, stability and security in the Balkans and beyond

"Who wants the Balkans to be safe and secure should desire a strong Albania," said Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz while on his first visit to Tirana, the capital city of Albania. Mr Yilmaz met with his counterpart Arben Imami, President Bujar Nishani and Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Mr Hasan Ashan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana, participated in the meetings.

Albania considers Turkey as "one of its strategic partners, both in the political and defense aspect," Mr Imami said. The bilateral military cooperation started in 1992, soon after the fall of the communist regime. Over the last two decades, Turkey has provided Albania with equipment, means of transport and training sessions. 2,400 military students have passed all levels of military schools of Turkey so far and Turkey has been taking part in the rebuilding of the Kuçova air base – "a priority" according to Imami – and in the Pashaliman naval base. Also, Albania has benefited from Turkey's support towards the achievements of NATO standards. Consequently, the bilateral cooperation greatly participated in Albania's accession to membership into NATO in 2009, Mr Imami acknowledged.

From a political viewpoint, Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Kosovo's independence and has brought support to the separatists during the 1999 war that opposed NATO and Albania on one side and Serbia-Montenegro under the official name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the other side. Although Turkey shares no common border with Albania, Turkey confers special importance on Albania because it has "special interest to peace and stability in the Balkans," explained Mr Yilmaz. In addition, the Balkans as a whole is continuing its path towards integration into NATO. While Croatia and Albania are already members of the military alliance, Macedonia – which enjoys growing relations with Turkey too –, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and even Serbia "are on the path of membership."

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