Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Talks Cyber Security During Israel Visit

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2023 (TPS) -- Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku visited Israeli Prime Minister Eli Cohen in Jerusalem on Wednesday, where the two discussed cybersecurity, Iran, tourism, and other issues.

Israel and Albania began to cooperate on cybersecurity after Iranian hackers damaged the Balkan country’s digital infrastructure in a series of attacks in October. Albania severed its ties with Iran and has been vocal in European Union deliberations to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organization.

Balluku and Cohen also discussed the possibility of opening direct flights between Tel Aviv and Tirana.

Cohen also expressed interest in paying a reciprocal visit to Albania.

Balluku, who also serves as Albania’s Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, met separately with Minister of Transport and National Infrastructure Miri Regev. The two discussed issues of mass transportation.

Most of Albania’s Jewish population moved to Israel in the 1990s as Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe.

In 2020, Albania drew attention for becoming the first Muslim country to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.