By Staff Reporter
The Albanian foreign and energy ministers were in Cyprus on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and to sign an agreement on health.
Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati and Energy Minister Damian Gjinkuri held meetings with their Cypriot counterparts Ioannis Kasoulides and Giorgos Lakkotrypis, and were also received by President Nicos Anastasiades and House President Yiannakis Omirou.
Bushati and Kasoulides signed bilateral agreement for cooperation in the area of health following a meeting by delegations of the two countries.
Bushati, after his meeting with Omirou, thanked the House President for Cyprus` support towards Albania`s European course. Kasoulides said in statements that particular emphasis was given to this. “We encouraged Albania to continue with the necessary reform process and assure my colleagues of our willingness to contribute to this effort with our knowledge and expertise,” he said.
He said he and his counterpart had exchanged views on regional issues, with particular emphasis on the rise of terrorism.
“Cyprus is particularly concerned and actively involved in the concerted efforts to efficiently eradicate the scourge of terrorism,” said Kasoulides.
Bushati said Albania wanted to strengthen cooperation with Cyprus as the two countries share similar challenges, but also opportunities in the areas of energy, tourism, infrastructure and environment.
“It is obvious that support from a small country to another small country gives the right message in the region. Our position towards the Cyprus issue has been consistent and clear in respect of international law and in full respect with the UN Security Council resolutions, and we will very much welcome a solution to this issue based on the same principles, and certainly a solution that will come through negotiations,” he said.
He said there was a plethora of opportunities to cooperate in the area of energy. “Today, all the respective ministers agreed to organise in March an event in Tirana that will bring together all the representatives of companies and state agents from countries, including Cyprus, to discuss these issues,” Bushati said.
