Turkey and Albania sign economic cooperation protocol

TIRANA (A.A) - November 30, 2011 - Turkey and Albania signed a joint economic committee protocol in Albanian capital of Tirana on Wednesday. Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Sahin attended the 11th meeting of the Turkish-Albanian Joint Economic Committee held at the Albanian Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy. Following the meeting, Fatma Sahin and Albanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy Nasip Naco signed the Joint Economic Committee Protocol. Speaking at the signature ceremony, Sahin stressed that "this protocol would be the story of a new success". Turkish-Albanian friendship shows itself in the cultural and other fields. Our two countries successfully survived the crisis. In the last decade, Turkey has reached both political and economic stability. Despite the global economic crisis, the Turkish economy continued to grow and unemployment rates fell. In the past several years, Albania has taken great steps for democratization and the establishment of a free market. Albania is a factor of stability in the region, Sahin said. Albania happens to be an important trade partner for Turkey. The protocol we have signed today aims to carry our economic and commercial relations to higher levels. This protocol will be the story of a new success, Sahin said. Nasip Naco, in his part, said that Turkey and Albania were strategic partners. The relations between Turkey and Albania were "excellent", Naco said. Turkey has always supported Albania and the Albanians. We appreciate Turkey's contributions to stability in the Balkans, Naco underlined. Turkey is the third biggest investor in Albania. More than 2,000 Turkish entrepreneurs have made investments in Albania. We believe that the protocol signed today will increase the number of Turkish entrepreneurs in Albania, Naco also said.