Cyprus and Albania signed an agreement for the promotion and mutual protection of investments.
The agreement was signed by Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou and Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilir Meta, who had talks here.
In statements to the press, referring to the signing of the agreement, Meta expressed hope that soon some Cypriot investors will invest in Albania. He said he was very optimistic because “Albania is representing now a very good country for foreign investors”, as it has been experiencing a considerable positive economic growth.
On his part, referring to the agreement on investments, Kyprianou said “this is one area with great prospects especially for investments by Cypriot business people and enterprises in Albania,” a developing economy, which offers new and good opportunities for Cypriot business people.
During the talks the held, Kyprianou and Meta discussed about the Cyprus problem, the issue of Kosovo, Albania’s EU prospects and process as well as the enhancement of the two countries’ relations in various fields. As it was noted, Cyprus has offered a number of scholarships to Albanian citizens to study in Cyprus.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, Meta said ''we have followed with attention and continuously the developments in Cyprus. We have strongly supported and we strongly support decisions of the UN Security Council as well as of the UN General Assembly.''
He expressed appreciation to the efforts of the parties, the UN Secretary General and new initiatives undertaken with a view to achieve an ultimate resolution of the Cyprus problem.
Meta also expressed his appreciation “for the moderate vision of Cypriot political senior representatives in support of a political settlement of the Cyprus issue in a realistic and peaceful way through negotiations and based on international and European standards and values.”
He said that he found “these constructive spirit and ideas” in his meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, expressing the belief that “this is the way to go ahead to have a final resolution of this problem and to give a chance to all citizens here to benefit for a prosperous common future.”
Kyprianou noted that he had the opportunity to brief Meta on the current phase of the negotiations on the Cyprus problem and the three-tier proposal by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias “which will facilitate and expedite the negotiations but also help on the substance both of the negotiations but also of the related issues.”
He noted that he expressed his thanks for the principled position of Albania on the Cyprus issue, based on the Security Council resolutions.
As regards Kosovo, Kyprianou said that “it is known that the two countries have a different approach. We had a very open and frank discussion. I really appreciate that, despite this different approach and I believe that these differences of opinion will not and should not affect our bilateral relations,” expressing support to the EU’s policies in supporting the economic and institutional development of Kosovo.
On his part Meta said that “Albania first of all supports a European Kosovo which will be a source of stability for the whole region,” stressing the need for the acceleration of Kosovo’s EU integration process.
“We have different approaches about the status but we appreciate the constructive behaviour of Cyprus considering the EU actions to help to strengthen the EU perspective of Kosovo,” Meta added, noting that everyone agrees that Kosovo is going to be part of the EU in the future, as the whole Western Balkans.
With regard Albania’s EU prospects and process, Kyprianou said that Cyprus has always been very supportive of Albania moving closer to the EU. “We have supported the prospect of Albania joining the EU even before Albania submitted its application and we support the visa liberalization between the EU and Albania,” he noted.
He said also that Cyprus has offered its support and expertise to Albania regarding the various EU challenges the country will be facing in the future.
He noted that they agreed to have a closer cooperation related to Albania’s further integration to the EU and thanked the Cypriot Minister for offering assistance in the process of Albania’s future negotiations with the EU.
Meta said that the relations between the two countries are very good but “can be more fruitful to the benefit of our people, but also to the benefit of peace and stability in our region.”
The Albanian official thanked Cyprus for its support to the visas liberalization of Albania with the EU Schengen area, adding that they have agreed that immediately after Albania reaches an agreement with the EU on this issue it will do the same in a bilateral way with Cyprus. He noted that this would enhance a lot the communication between the two countries’ peoples and also their economic, trade and cultural relations.
Meta expressed his gratefulness to Cyprus for offering scholarships to Albanian students to study in the island in various areas.
The Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and FM also noted the huge progress achieved during this year in his country’s bilateral relations with Serbia.
“We think that all the countries in the Western Balkans or the countries also in the Mediterranean should work very openly and very frankly and we should benefit from the new area of peace and stability and of the integration,” he noted
Meta also said that President Christofias has been invited to pay a visit to Albania and the Albanian Prime Minister is looking forward to pay a visit to Cyprus.
Kyprianou noted that they discussed about the various areas of cooperation between the two countries, noting that education is an important such area and that Cyprus has offered a number of scholarships to the Albanian people, something that “will help them and us in taking these relations further.”
Kyprianou said that Cyprus and Albania are in a new phase of closer relations, adding that both he and Meta are committed to this. “We intend and that was the base of our negotiations as well today, to take steps to take these relations even further in a practical and concrete way.”
Responding to a question, both Meta and Kyprianou underlined that the different opinions of Cyprus and Albania on the issue of Kosovo will not impede the further enhancement of their bilateral relations.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
