Minister Sa’ar, Dear Gideon,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you, Minister Sa’ar, to Tirana.

Bruhim hab’im le’albania

To our recollection, this is the third visit of a Foreign Minister of Israel to Albania.

We may well say, Third Time’s a Charm. And we would be right because, as we just agreed that this moments represents the highest point in our relations which not only confirms the longstanding friendship but also a growing and firther strenthening partnership between Albania and Israel.

Today, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthening our bilateral relations, founded on deep historical bonds, strong diplomatic ties, shared democratic values, mutual trust and respect. And a shared and growing desire and political will to further strengthen our partnership.

We just signed an Agreement on General Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the State of Israel. It marks a n additional important step in strengthening the partnership between our countries.

It provides for a structured mechanism through which our countries will expand cooperation across multiple sectors of mutual interest, including economy and trade, innovation and technology, agriculture, water management, energy, health, education, security, tourism, and culture. It opens new opportunities for our institutions to work together and deliver lasting benefits for our citizens.

Security remains a key pillar of our partnership. Albania and Israel attach great importance to countering terrorism, violent extremism, fighting antisemitism, hybrid threats, and emerging risks to national security.

Our cooperation in cybersecurity has acquired particular significance in recent years. We remain deeply grateful to Israel for its valuable support to Albania in strengthening our cyber-defence capabilities following the brutal cyberattacks against Albania’s core digital infrastructure in 2022. Since then, we have continuously invested in the resilience of our digital infrastructure and will further strengthen cooperation with Israel in this vital area.

Our partnership is also expanding in the economic field. We see significant potential to diversify and strengthen economic cooperation, and I am encouraged by the growing interest of Israeli businesses and investors in Albania, particularly in infrastructure, agribusiness, technology, innovation, and energy, but also healthcare.

People-to-people ties lie always at the heart of any lasting partnership. In recent years, growing tourism has become an important bridge between our countries, creating new opportunities for more engagement and incresed exchange.

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Albania remains firmly committed to peace, dialogue, and international cooperation. We have and will continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, and lasting peace and security in the Middle East.

In this context, we strongly condemn Iran and its proxies’ continued destabilising activities and its recent attacks across the Middle East, which threaten regional peace, security, and stability.

We had a meaningful exchange of views regarding the developments in the Western Balkans. I emphasized the fundamental importance that Albania attached to stability and cooperation in the Western Balkans. I highlighted that, in this respect, the recognition of Kosova by Israel and the close relations it has established, are part of common efforts to stability and cooepration in the Western Balkans.

Minister,
Dear Gideon,

Few peoples in history have endured as much suffering, persecution, and tragedy as the Jewish people.

Across centuries, and culminating in the horrors of the Holocaust, they experienced one of humanity’s darkest chapters.

The creation of the State of Israel emerged from this painful history and from the aspiration of a people to live in security and dignity in their ancestral homeland.

Yet the history of Israel has also been marked by recurring wars, conflict, insecurity, and loss, bringing pain and suffering to countless innocent lives across the region. Both to Israelis and Palestinians.

The brutal terrorist attacks of 7 October, the sheer mass murder of innocent people, in their homes, in the streets, and the devastating events that have followed, are a stark reminder of both the fragility of peace and the fundamental importance of security.

No nation can be expected to accept the threat of terrorism against its citizens, just as no lasting peace can emerge from perpetual insecurity, violence, and fear.

The immense suffering that has unfolded since then has claimed far too many innocent lives and left deep scars both among Israelis and Palestinians.

It has reinforced the urgent need, first to guarantee Israel’s security, but also to pursue every possible effort toward a just and sustainable peace.

It is in this perspective that Albania, through Prime Minister Rama became a founding memer of the Board of Peace and decided to contribute to the International Stabilization Force, which reflects our commitment to supporting stability, security, and humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The challenge before the international community is therefore to help create the conditions in which both Israelis and Palestinians can live in safety, dignity, and hope, free from the cycles of violence that have caused so much pain for generations.

For Albania, the history of jews people carries a particular resonance. During one of humanity’s darkest hours, Albanians opened their homes, protected Jewish families, and ensured that those who sought refuge found safety and dignity. I was proud to show you some of documents of thos times, many unknown to the public until recently.

It remains one of the proudest chapters of our national history and a powerful testament to our values of humanity, solidarity, and respect for life. We have summarised this attitude in one single word: BESA – the Primise – The given word.

These bonds, forged in adversity and guided by moral courage, continue today as a strong foundation for the growing friendship between Albania and Israel, and for our shared commitment to peace, security, and mutual understanding.

In this framework, I informed the Minister that Albania is advancing two important projects: the Besa Museum in Tirana and the Jewish Museum in Vlora.

These institutions will serve as educational and cultural centres, celebrating the historic bonds between our people, and recognising the enduring presence and contribution of the Jewish community in Albanian society.

My dear friend,

I am confident that our discussions today will further consolidate the cooperation between Albania and Israel and open new avenues of collaboration for the benefit of both our nations and peoples.

I look forward to continuing our close coperation