The Greek media have paid special attention to the visit of the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tirana. From an observation made by lapsi.al, it can be seen that the main headlines distinguish the kamikaze drones that Ankara will donate to Tirana and the opening of the largest mosque in the Balkans. Thus the daily "Ta Nea" writes that "Erdogan went to Tirana with "gifts".
The Greek newspaper quotes Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama who praised the friendship with Erdogan saying that "this is a gift that comes as a strong message from the Republic of Turkey that Albania is inviolable", without specifying the number or type of drones that Ankara will use. donate However, he clarified that receiving Turkish kamikaze drones does not mean that "Albania will attack anyone".
"Ta Nea" also stops at the inauguration of the new mosque in the Albanian capital Namazgjaja, stressing that this too was a Turkish financing. "It is the largest mosque in the Balkans, it has 4 minarets each 35 meters high and its structure is reminiscent of Ottoman architecture. Around the mosque there are facilities that will function as a cultural center, library, exhibition space, conference hall, "coexistence museum" and seminars. It will be jointly managed by the Muslim Community of Albania and Turkey" - the article states.
Even the daily "Kathimerini" paid a lot of attention to the inauguration of the new mosque in Tirana. "The mosque, the construction of which began in 2015, is characterized as the largest in the Balkans," the article says.
CNN Greece starts its article with a quote from Erdogan, according to which Ankara is "among the 5 largest foreign investors" in Albania, with investments amounting to 3.5 billion dollars. "More than 600 Turkish companies offer employment to more than 15 thousand Albanians. The cooperation is also military between these two NATO member countries: this year Tirana received the first Bayraktar TB2 drones purchased from Turkey" - CNN.gr quotes.
While "Huffington Post" in the Greek language underlines that Erdogan will travel to Albania and Serbia, in a Balkan tour where "he seeks to strengthen ties in a region once ruled by the Ottoman Empire". The article also highlights the differences that Rama and Erdogan had about Hamas.
Erdogan attacked Israel for the war in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing it of committing "genocide", calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Even Edi Rama agreed on the need for a cease-fire, but his rhetoric regarding Hamas was different from that of the Turkish president, calling it a terrorist organization" - quotes the Huffington Post in Greek.
"Euronea" in the Greek language, also highlighted the taking of kamikaze drones from Tirana and the opening of the Namazgja mosque. "The Turkish president reminded the Albanian side of the issue of a joint fight against terrorism, for the presence in Albania of the main followers of the preacher Fethullah Gulen (FETO), whom Turkey accuses of being the organizer of the 2016 coup" - quotes Euroneës in Greek adding that the two countries signed 4 agreements to strengthen cooperation in the field of rural development, education as well as communication and media.
A complete panorama of Erdogan's visit to Tirana was also made by SKAI television, according to which his tour in Albania and Serbia is aimed at strengthening economic relations with this region. /Lapsi.al