Covering Albania and Serbia: What Happened During President Erdogan's Balkan Tour?

On October 10 and 11, 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an official visit to Albania and Serbia, both located in the Balkan region.

His first stop was Albania, where he received a formal welcome from Albanian President Bajram Begaj in Tirana. Erdogan then held a one-on-one meeting with Begaj, followed by a broader discussion with the official delegations from both countries.

The Turkish President also had a private meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and both leaders participated in the second High-Level Cooperation Council meeting in Tirana.

Cooperation Agreements

During the visit, Turkiye and Albania signed four agreements covering cooperation in the fields of communications, education, and agriculture.

Before the joint press conference, these agreements were signed in the presence of President Erdogan and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Both parties signed a Joint Declaration on Deepening the Strategic Partnership, established with the creation of the High-Level Cooperation Council between the governments of Turkiye and Albania.

At the press conference, alongside his remarks on bilateral relations, President Erdogan addressed the Israeli Occupation in the region.

“The genocide that has been going on in Gaza for a year is a common shame for all humanity. For this reason, we need to make every effort as the international community to ensure a permanent cease-fire, deliver humanitarian aid, and apply the necessary pressure on Israel,'” said Erdogan.

“I sincerely believe that Albania will also do its part in this regard,” he added.

For his part, Edi Rama said what is happening daily in Gaza is a global tragedy. He also noted that he and President Erdogan share the same values concerning “Russia's aggression in Ukraine” and the right of the Palestinian people to live freely in their homeland.

In another part of the visit, Erdogan attended the inauguration of Namazgah Mosque in Tirana, where he was warmly welcomed by citizens. In his speech at the event, the Turkish president emphasized the importance of Muslim unity in pursuing a shared cause.

Underscoring that the Israeli administration has moved its policy of massacre to Lebanon, President Erdogan went on to say, “It is a conscientious obligation for all of us to stand against the state terror Israel has been carrying out. By recently attacking Lebanon, the Netanyahu administration has once again shown that it has no intention of restoring peace in the region.”

“I once again call on from this sacred place all conscientious people, Muslims in particular, to adopt a common stance against Israeli aggression.”

At the end of the mosque's inauguration, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed his gratitude to Turkiye for its contribution to the construction of the Namazgah Mosque.

After leaving Albania, Erdogan arrived at his second stop, Serbia, where Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic welcomed him at Belgrade Airport.

On October 11, 2024, Erdogan started his meetings with a one-on-one discussion with President Vucic at the Serbian Presidential Palace.

“The visit of one of the most influential statesmen in the modern world, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is always a great honor for Serbia,” said Serbian President.

Later, the two leaders took part in the 4th High-Level Cooperation Council meeting in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where they signed 11 cooperation agreements between Turkiye and Serbia, covering sectors such as economy, industry, disaster relief, aid, media, and information.

Erdogan highlighted the strong trade relations and bilateral ties, noting that Turkiye's trade volume with Serbia has surpassed $2 billion for the past two consecutive years. He expressed commitment to advancing their shared goal of reaching $5 billion.

He added that no external party should dictate the structure of the defense industry between Turkiye and Serbia, emphasizing that both countries possess significant potential and would work together to leverage it for a prosperous future. 

Erdogan also stressed the need for Turkiye and Serbia to take a joint step forward, noting that this step should concentrate on establishing a defense industry that guarantees peace.

Furthermore, the Turkish President highlighted to Vucic the importance of Serbia's constructive approach in addressing the political fragility in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Israeli Genocide

During his visit to Serbia, Erdogan also addressed the Israeli aggression, stating, “Nine countries have recognized the State of Palestine since October 7 [2023]. We reiterate our call for countries that still have not done so to recognize the State of Palestine.”

In turn, Vucic said President Erdogan has a deep understanding of the issues facing the Balkans and consistently emphasizes that dialogue is the only solution to these problems.

Referring to the developments Turkiye has undergone in recent years, Vučić noted how the country looked before Erdoğan's arrival, highlighting that he has significantly changed its image, making Turkiye one of the most modern nations in the world today.

Turkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on energy transition cooperation with Serbia.

Bayraktar stated that their aim is to develop joint mining projects.

At the Turkiye-Serbia Business Forum, Erdogan highlighted the significant progress between the two countries, saying, “As two countries, we have made significant progress in a short time. Our trade volume broke a record for 2 years in a row and exceeded $2 billion.”

In the same forum, Vucic emphasized that their relationship with Turkiye extends far beyond economic cooperation, noting that for them, the partnership with Turkiye signifies peace and stability.

Erdoagn also met with political and religious leaders from the predominantly Muslim Sandzak region.

He left Serbia on the evening of October 11, 2024, and his Balkan tour received extensive media coverage in both Albania and Serbia.

Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) reported in detail on the visit, highlighting the signing of four agreements between Turkiye and Albania in the fields of cooperation, communications, education, and agriculture.

Serbia's official news agency, Tanjug, quoted Erdogan's statement that Turkish-Serbian relations are experiencing “a golden era.”

It also noted Erdogan's emphasis on Serbia's constructive role in addressing political fragility in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

‘Strategic and Important’

In this context, it is crucial to emphasize that the Balkans hold significant importance for Turkiye, both politically and in terms of soft power dynamics.

During the visit, discussions also took place regarding strategies to counter the influence of the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO), in addition to focusing on bilateral relations.

While developments in the region sometimes impact Turkiye's relationships with neighboring countries, the two regions remain interconnected in a way that leaves no room for alternatives.

Turkish media also covered President Erdogan's trip to the Balkans, highlighting the two nations he visited.

“Albania is undoubtedly one of Turkiye's natural allies in the Balkans. The country considers itself a protector of Albanians in the region and has elevated its relationship with Turkiye to a strategic partnership, especially since Edi Rama became Prime Minister in 2013,” according to Sabah.

“Over the past decade, Turkish-Albanian relations have deepened across various fields, including economy, education, culture, transportation, and infrastructure.”

“Rama seeks to maximize benefits for his country by balancing relations with Greece, Italy, and Turkiye while attempting to lift Albania from the legacy of a closed economy that was devastated by Enver Hoxha’s regime, the communist leader who ruled from the end of World War II until 1985,” as per Sabah.

Regarding Serbia, the Turkish newspaper stated, “It is one of the most important countries in the Balkans, characterized by a rich diplomatic history and expertise accumulated over the 19th and 20th centuries. Its geopolitical location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe positions it as a key player in the crises of Bosnia and Kosovo.”

“Serbia stands out as the only country in the region capable of engaging with China, Russia, the United States, the European Union, and Turkiye. Its ability to attract investments and shape a robust political agenda makes it an indispensable player in the Balkans,” according to Sabah.