TURKEY: Albanian Foreign Minister Basha expresses support for newly independent Kosovo

Record ID: 560887

  • Title: TURKEY: Albanian Foreign Minister Basha expresses support for newly independent Kosovo
  • Date: 27th February 2008
  • Summary: (CEEF) ANKARA, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 26, 2008) (REUTERS) ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LULZIM BASHA MEETING WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ALI BABACAN AT THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY BABACAN AND BASHA SITTING AND TALKING BASHA NODDING AND TALKING BABACAN TALKING PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES BABACAN AND BASHA SHAKING HANDS BABACAN AND BASHA ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE HALL JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LULZIM BASHA, SAYING: "The most important countries in the world. The countries which were affected heavily by World War Two have recognised Kosovo as an independent state." JOURNALIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, LULZIM BASHA, SAYING: "The numbers of countries recognising Kosovo as an independent country is rising. We are sure that the worldwide recognition of Kosovo will widen and Kosovo will exist forever." BASHA BEING ASKED QUESTION DURING SOUNDBITE JOURNALIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, LULZIM BASHA, SAYING: "Serbians, Albanians or Turks will live together in Kosovo equally and will get the benefit of democracy and a free market." JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES BASHA AND BABACAN LEAVING CONFERENCE ROOM
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6MNTIH8LKXGGBMC2AATHIFJRT
  • Story Text: Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha meets Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan during an official visit to Ankara where he expressed his support for the recently independent Kosovo.
    Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan at the Turkish capital of Ankara on Tuesday (February 26).
    Basha who is on an official visit to Turkey arrived in Ankara late on Monday (February 25).
    During their meeting, the foreign ministers said they had discussed regional issues and Kosovo's recent declaration of independence.
    At a joint news conference, the Albanian Foreign Minister said Kosovo's recognition as an independent state would widen with time.

    "The most important countries in the world. The countries which were affected heavily by World War Two have recognised Kosovo as an independent state," Basha told journalists and added, "We are sure that the worldwide recognition of Kosovo will widen and Kosovo will exist forever."
    Basha also said he was sure the ethnically diverse Kosovo would provide equal rights for all its citizens.

    "Serbians, Albanians or Turks will live together in Kosovo equally and will get the benefit of democracy and a free market," he said.
    Basha is expected to later meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, before returning to Albania on Wednesday (February 27).
    Both Albania and Turkey recognised Kosovo after the region declared independence on February 17.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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