Albania Eyes Increased Cooperation

A top Albanian diplomat met President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday to discuss bilateral relations. Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said Tirana is determined to open "a new chapter" in relations with Tehran, Tasnim News Agency reported. He stressed the need to fight violence and said all countries should act in unison in making counter-terrorism efforts, and Albania is ready to increase consultations with Iran in this regard. Rouhani warned of the spread of terrorism across the world and said the Islamic Republic is ready to boost cooperation with various countries, including Albania, in the campaign against terror groups."Terrorism is a global scourge and one of our major duties is to combat violence and terrorism," he said. The president said Iran has always favored peace and stability in the Balkans. Rouhani pointed to the capabilities of the two countries to boost collaboration in economic areas, stating that after the July 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, opportunities have emerged for developing ties between Tehran and Tirana in all fields, especially in economy and trade.