Bajram Begaj, official visit to Italy/Meeting "head to head" with President Mattarella

2023-05-26 16:34:00, Politikë CNA

Bajram Begaj, official visit to Italy/Meeting "head to head" with

President Bajram Begaj, accompanied by the First Lady Armanda Begaj, started today a two-day official visit to Italy where he was received with special honors by the President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella.

This is the first visit of the Head of State to one of the Western European countries.

After the ceremonies, Begaj and Mattarella held a "one-on-one" conversation and then led the official delegations in an extended meeting.

During the extended meeting between the two delegations, the President appreciated the historical and traditionally friendly relations between the two countries, the solidarity and the situation next to each other in the most difficult and delicate moments, in most of the history of the two peoples.

"Grateful for the will of the Italian side to conclude the procedures of the agreement on social security and expressed the belief that this agreement will become effective very soon, to help both Albanians and Italians who live and work respectively in both countries", he said. he.

President Begaj expressed his condolences for the lost lives and regrets for the great damage caused by the floods during the last few days in the region of Emilia Romagna, as well as assured President Mattarella of the solidarity of Albania and the Albanians with the Italian people in these moments.

In particular, the Head of State appreciated the role and support of Italy after the democratic changes over three decades ago.

Expressing gratitude for the multidimensional economic-social support through development and aid programs, as well as the reception of nearly half a million Albanian immigrants in Italy, Begaj underlined that these events have made interpersonal and interstate relations between the two countries even stronger.

The Head of State also appreciated the very good economic and trade relations, and referring to Italy as the main and privileged trade partner and as one of the main donors for Albania, he underlined that the opportunities are even greater in this direction.

"The growing presence of Italian entrepreneurs in Albania and the interest in investments in strategic sectors or in major regional projects such as the TAP Pipeline and the 8th Corridor, are the best evidence in this direction, but they need to be promoted even more", he emphasized. ./ CNA.al