Prime Minister Edi Rama today received the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, who is on an official visit to our country, as the first Israeli President to visit Albania since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

After the meeting between the delegations, held in the Hall of Cards, Prime Minister Rama and Israeli President Herzog made a joint press statement:

* * *

*Prime Minister Edi Rama:* Dear President Herzog, dear friends from Israel who have come to Albania!

Albania considers Israel and relations with the Jewish people as part of the proud history of a small country that has written a very beautiful page in the history of the world, being the only European country that had more Jews after the Second World War than before.

We are very proud that our forefathers, whether Muslim or Christian, overcame all restrictions and prejudices, religious or otherwise, and protected the Jews, and that not a single Jew surrendered to the Nazis.

Albania became a country where, unlike other countries, Jews did not leave, but came to find friendship, shelter, and protection. It is a historical bond that we have always been and will continue to be keen to strengthen. On the other hand, we have been, are, and will continue to be firmly opposed to any form of anti-Semitism, as well as to any expression of intolerance or prejudice against Jews.

We are, of course, quite aware that what is happening in the territories where the people of Israel and the people of Palestine live is absolutely serious and it is absolutely something that needs to end as soon as possible. On the other hand, we are well aware that this is easier said than done and that the war and the victory against terror are much more difficult than it may seem from afar. On the other hand, Albania has also been a big supporter of the ceasefire and every possible effort to bring the hostages home and start a new process for the good of all people.

I am prone to emphasizing that while these are very difficult times for Israel, for its people, and for all the peoples who live in this corner of the world, the future will surely be a future of a better Israel, stronger and safer and undoubtedly in a more prosperous, peaceful and visionary region.

Meanwhile, we are here with open arms to welcome all Israelis who want to come, whether they are tourists or entrepreneurs, artists, writers, people who deal with high technology, or even the elderly who want to have their home here in the heart of Europe, on the coast of two seas, surrounded by many rivers, in a nature where you can find everything in a very small space in a country as small as Albania.

The economic cooperation between the two countries has a huge potential for rapid development. The trends are quite encouraging and visible, but of course, it is obvious that we can do much more.

Finally, I am very, very happy to finally have the President here as a friend, not only as the President of Israel, but also as a very dear and old friend whom I had the privilege to know a long time ago when he was in the trenches of today’s politics in Israel, and it is a real pleasure to have the opportunity to sit with him, to listen to him and to learn from him.

A very wise, outstanding man, an experienced man, who has a friendship with Albania and the Albanian people in his heart, and I am sure that after this visit he will be even more motivated to promote the strengthening of this relationship even more important. Thank you again, Mr. President.

Thank you, my friend, the floor is yours.

*The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog:* Thank you very much, my dear friend, Prime Minister Edi Rama, my friend Edi for so many years. It is an honor and a pleasure for me to be here in Albania as the first Israeli President to visit Albania since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries.

I would like to thank you for your warm hospitality.

It is very meaningful for me to be among friends at this very painful time for Israel. We are approaching one year since Hamas brutally attacked Israel, one year since thousands of terrorists invaded our country, brutally killed thousands, and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis and foreign citizens in Gaza, and since that dark day in October, Albania has stood firmly on the right side of history.

Dear Prime Minister,

Your country has once again shown that it stands by the people of Israel, as we fight to protect our people, our border, and our civilization, and especially as we fight for the dream of peace between us and Palestine, in the hope that all nations in the region will live in peace.

Our work is not done yet, as you mentioned, hostages are still being held cruelly in Gaza under a rather large violation of humanitarian and international norms. Therefore, we must do everything in our power to bring them all home.

Unfortunately, we are fighting more than one terrorist enemy at the same time, and in fact, the shadow of blood that binds all agents of hatred is Iran and its cruel anti-Semitic obsession with the destruction of the State of Israel, and here in Albania, you know this radical regime well enough. But our relationship does not begin and end there. Albanians and Jews, as you rightly mentioned, share a long and significant history. Jews from all over Europe found refuge in Albania during the Holocaust, which is a testament to the deeply rooted ethical tradition of Albanians of all faiths and the extraordinary spirit of the Albanian people.

We have much to learn from each other now, and I am very happy to be here and to explore new ways to deepen our ties in all spheres of life, with a significant increase in connectivity in many areas of life, especially in the economic field. With me here are important members of the Israeli business delegation on this trip, and that really speaks volumes about our closeness.

I am very glad that I had the opportunity to discuss all these things personally in our fruitful talks today with your President and especially with you, Edi, our dear friend, our excellent friend.

The nation of Israel will never forget that you and the Albanian nation stood by us in these difficult times. So let me finish my words in Albanian, and of course, I apologize if they are not perfectly said.

I thank the Albanian people for their continued friendship over the years!