Turley’s Erdogan Visits Albania to Discuss Economic Ties

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Albania to discuss increasing economic ties with the small Balkan nation, heading a delegation of about 100 businessmen as he arrived in the capital for meetings with Albanian government officials.

Turkey is one of Albania's main trading partners and investors. Erdogan, who last visited the country six years ago, was meeting Wednesday with his counterpart Bujar Nishani and Prime Minister Edi Rama.

During his visit, Erdogan was to inaugurate the start of construction on a 20,000-square-meter mosque to be built next to the parliament building in the capital Tirana. The Namazgja Mosque will put an end to praying on the main Boulevard Martyrs of the Nation during Muslim religious ceremonies.

Albania's 3.2 million population is predominantly Muslim.