Defence Minister Kodheli official visit to Turkey

: Published: Wednesday, 12 February 2014 13:22

The Minister of Defence, Mrs. Mimi Kodheli is in a two-day official visit to Ankara, Turkey, invited by her counterpart, The Minister of Defence of Turkey, Mr. Ismet Yilmaz. At the meeting Minister Kodheli had with the Minister of Defence of Turkey, Mr. Ismet Yilmaz, it was highlighted the excellent level of relations between our two countries, and discussions focused on finding potentialities to further enhance them. The Turkish Defence Minister stated that, Turkey sees Albania as a key partner and its biggest ally. In this context, on behalf of the Turkish government, Mr. Yilmaz assured Minister Kodheli for Turkey’s unquestionable support to Albania for the status of candidate country in EU.

Further, both senior officials, focusing on defence relations, praised the excellent cooperation between our two countries. In this context, 2,500 Albanian military students have studied and were qualified in Turkey since 1992 and onwards, while currently, 86 military students study in this country.
During the meeting, both counterparts also discussed about concrete projects of cooperation, seeing the possibility of Turkish investments in the Kuçova airport or Pashaliman Base.
Minister Kodheli briefed her counterpart on Albania’s role in regional affairs. She also mentioned the joint meeting of the governments of Albania and Kosovo, and expressed the belief that such meeting with the Turkish government would serve not only to our two countries, but to the whole region.

Afterwards, Mrs. Kodheli was welcomed in a very warm meeting by the Chief of General Staff, General Necdet Özel. General Özel strongly highlighted the willingness of the Turkish Armed Forces to support the Albanian Armed Forces in all their needs. In these meetings, Mrs. Kodheli asked to explore opportunities for cooperation, especially in the field of military industry, noting that Albania should definitely keep in work the factories in Poliçan Mjekës or Gramsh, as the only economic opportunities for local residents.

Earlier, Defence Minister Kodheli placed a wreath at the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.