site.btaPresident Radev's Meetings in Tirana

March 5 (BTA special correspondent Lora Metanova) -
After meeting with Albanian President Ilir Meta, Bulgarian
President Rumen Radev said: "I would like to thank Albania for
the legislative reforms which open up prospects for the
Bulgarian national minority to fully exercise its rights." Radev
 is paying a state visit to Albania on March 5-6 at the
invitation of his counterpart.

Radev noted that this is one of Sofia's key criteria for
supporting Albania's European path. He said one of the main
purposes of his visit was to express Bulgaria's support  since
his country believes that Albania is ready to start EU accession
 negotiations.

The prospects for economic cooperation were also on the agenda
of the meeting. Radev said that more than 70 Bulgarian companies
 have invested in Albania - a process which should be
encouraged. He singled out the importance of connectivity and
the construction of Pan-European Transport Corridor 8. The two
heads of State also discussed the resumption of air service
between Sofia and Tirana and cooperation between the Bulgarian
Black Sea ports and Durres. "This is an important condition for
realizing the number one potential between us - exchanges in
education, science and culture," said Radev.

Answering a reporter's question about migrant pressure, Radev
said the migrant crisis was causing serious problems in the
region: strained relations between countries, an impaired
security environment and a humanitarian crisis. "Of course, we
should see to it that Turkey gets help, but we should also help
Greece," he said. In his view, the migrant pressure shows that
Europe's policy in this area has clear deficiencies.   

For his part, President Meta noted that the key question is to
pool the efforts of the international community and the EU. He
said that the NATO member states have an important role in the
stabilization of the situation in Syria.

Meta thanked Radev for Bulgaria's support to Albania on the path
 to European integration and starting membership negotiations.

The Albanian President also thanked for Bulgaria's support in
the wake of the recent devastating earthquake in Albania when
Bulgaria helped with financial aid and engineering teams. Meta
said that the contribution of the Bulgarian team in the
assessment of the earthquake damage was very important.

During his two-day visit to Tirana which started on Thursday
Radev is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Edi Rama,
Parliament Chairman Gramoz Ruci, and representatives of the
Bulgarian minority in Albania. NV/DD, ZH

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