Minister Çavuşoğlu met with Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka at the ministry. After the bilateral meeting, a press conference was held. Çavuşoğlu said, “Our trade volume is increasing significantly. It’s up 68 percent last year. It was $853 million. It seems that we will exceed $1 billion this year. When we look at this trade volume, there is a serious deficit in our favor. Every country wants to increase its exports, but while it is increasing, it is necessary to balance it a little more, to increase the amount and value of the products that Albania can sell to us. In order to address these, it is necessary to hold the Joint Economic Commission Meeting. We held the meeting about 2 years ago, now we are waiting for a commitment in Albania. If there is such a deficit in the trade balance, we can say that we balance this deficit with the investments we have burned in significant amounts. More than 600 of our companies are investing in Albania. They also undertake important projects. As Turkey, when we look at the total investments in Albania, we are in the first place”.
“We expect the return of Thodex founder Özer to our country”
Regarding the extradition of Thodex founder Faruk Fatih Özer, Çavuşoğlu said, “We also brought up the issue of FETO during our meeting. FETÖ is a threat to every country it is in. In every country, another third country uses FETO, uses it against us, against Albania. Therefore, it is also important for Albania’s security. Some important steps have been taken. Today, we shared the necessary information about the extradition of some people to Turkey. On the other hand, we also brought up the issue of the extradition of Thodex founder Faruk Fatih Özer from Albania to our country. There is a court process, the 4th court was seen today. The 5th court will be held on November 10, and we expect this person to be extradited to our country with the completion of the legal process as soon as possible. He is a fraudster who defrauded many of our citizens,” he said. Albanian Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka said that Albanians and Turks have a historical friendship at the official level, above all at the social level. found. Thanking Turkey for its support, Xhaçka said, “We would like to emphasize our gratitude for the generous help for our reconstruction after the tragic earthquake, the support during the coronavirus, in the two most important events in November 2019. I believe we should be proud of what we have achieved in this regard. Because the relations between our countries have never been stronger. We are preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and Turkey.
“Recognition of driver’s licenses came to the agenda”
Speaking about the recognition of driver’s licenses between the two countries, Xhaçka continued: “I asked my colleague (Minister Çavuşoğlu) to speed up and assist the local procedures in the country to finalize the entry into force of the agreement on the recognition of driver’s licenses. We have already completed the internal procedures on our part. This is a mutually beneficial agreement.”