(ANSA) - CHIETI, 27 MAG - "I believe that Albania can be for Italian entrepreneurs a gateway not only to Albania, but to the entire Balkan region." Albania's President Bajram Begaj, who visited Chieti this morning, told reporters. "Albania is a small country, but it holds great potential in the economic field, of course we need to cultivate mutual interests in many areas, such as energy, agriculture, tourism. Obviously the Italian media have informed you that there are many Italians living, working and studying in Albania." Upon his arrival in Chieti, Begaj, who is accompanied by his wife, at the initiative of the Honorable Luciano D'Alfonso, reached the historic Gran Caffè Vittoria for coffee and on the very short route between the café and the Province building stopped with some Albanian citizens living in Italy.

On his way out of the Province of Chieti building, Begaj lingered with reporters, "It is a great pleasure to be here today: I can say that the old Arbereshe community that is in Italy and came four centuries ago, and the new community of immigrants who arrived after the 1990s, as well as the community of Italians who work and live in Albania, constitute a real bridge that binds the friendship between our two countries and our two peoples, and I hope that this bond and this friendship will grow further," he said.

In a final curtain call, Begaj then recalled that he had kept his promise to the current deputy mayor of Chieti, Paolo De Cesare, namely that he would visit the capital of Chieti, a promise made when Begaj was still president-designate. (ANSA).