Meeting of the President of the Hellenic Parliament with the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament

The President of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Constantine Tassoulas, met with the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Ms. Lindita Nikolla, who is in Athens participating in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament of the member states of the Council of Europe.
Welcoming his counterpart from the neighbouring country, the President of the Hellenic Parliament stressed, "the two countries today are united by the national Greek minority in Albania, with historical roots, and a large number of Albanians who created the myth of their modern life here in our country. Looking after these two population groups is an element that will further strengthen our bilateral relations."
After the meeting, Mr. Tassoulas stated:
"In the context of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament of   Council of Europe member states, held here in Athens and on the occasion of the completion of two centuries since the war for our country's national independence, I welcome to Athens, to Greece, to the Hellenic Parliament, Her Excellency the Speaker of the Parliament of Albania, a remarkable politician who has recently undertaken such high and responsible office and who, I am certain, will contribute to the work of the Conference, but also to the improvement of relations between our two countries, Greece and Albania. I am also glad that she is a deep connoisseur of the history, of the present as well as of the most optimistic future of these relationships.
Today, the two countries are united by their populations, united by the national Greek minority in Albania, with historical roots and a large number of Albanians who created the myth of their modern life here in our country, who live and prosper with us, contributing too, in the development of our country. The welfare of these two population categories, the protection of the human rights of the Greek minority,  but also our care for the Albanians who live and are active in Greece, is an element that will further strengthen our bilateral relations. And I am sure that with the formation, by your recently elected national delegation, of the Friendship Group between Albania and Greece and its cooperation with our respective Friendship Group, the two parliaments, which have a tradition of cooperation, will push the governments of our countries and, will push the relations of our countries towards better developments".
In her response, Ms Nikolla said:
"Mr. President, thank you for the hospitality, for the very warm discussion we had and for the cooperation of the two countries in general, as two strategic partners in NATO, as well as for the support of Greece to the european course of Albania.
We will participate in a very important conference where we will discuss the issues of cooperation, the challenges and the problems we face for a better world. I am glad that I spoke with you, a remarkable political figure, about development, about all the problems and about the relations between Albania and Greece.
I take this opportunity to thank you for the help that Greece offered to Albania at the earthquake and even for the vaccines that you offered during the time of the health crisis.
The large Albanian community in Greece and the Greek minority in Albania are two bridges of cooperation and we are committed to this cooperation and support. We will constantly cooperate for a better quality of life for the communities I aforementioned, as well as we will cooperate within the framework of the Greek-Albanian Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
I also thank the President for the valuable assistance provided by the Hellenic Parliament to the administration of the Albanian Parliament in the field of exchanging European experience. Besides, I was especially happy when I was informed in the previous meeting we had in the Municipality of Athens that a cultural center will be built for the Albanian community in Greece. "We have a lot of experience and an even greater willingness to cooperate in the future and I take this opportunity to invite you on an official visit to Albania."
Regarding the vaccinations, the President of the Hellenic Parliament added that "vaccines are not only to be donated, but also to be done", emphasizing that "in Greece and Albania and everywhere, all doubts, worries, hesitations must be overcome and to trust science and logic, so that we can soon take off our masks, restore our contacts and organize our lives. During the last twenty months the whole world, both Albania and Greece, have gone through a huge ordeal, but we have stood up and we must finally, with the vaccination extension, reach the end of this adventure, leave it behind and deal with other challenges we have, which are not few.”