TOP > What's up around the Prime Minister > February, 2008

Japan-Albania Summit Meeting Tuesday, February 5, 2008 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held talks with Mr. Sali Berisha, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "I extend my heartfelt welcome to you as the first Prime Minister of Albania to visit Japan. It is my sincere wish that Albania will achieve progress in democratization and the transition to a market economy under your strong leadership. Also, I expect this visit will serve as a good opportunity to further deepen our bilateral relations." At the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda expressed his intention to continue assisting Albania's democratization efforts and its transition to a market economy undertaken with a view to its accession to the European Union (EU) and membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In light of this, he announced the decision to extend about 11.1 billion yen in ODA loans to assist the Development Plan for Sewerage System and Sewage Treatment Plant for Greater Tirana. In response, Prime Minister Berisha expressed his gratitude for Japan's economic support to Albania, and his intention to cooperate with Japan bilaterally and in the international arena, as well as to further strengthen economic ties with Japan. Related link: Japan-Albania Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)