UK foreign secretary meets Albanian premier, hails bilateral ties

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Wednesday met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Albania's capital Tirana, discussing bilateral relations, especially irregular migration.

Ahead of his visit to the Balkan country, the UK Foreign Office said Cameron will see first-hand how the UK’s relationship with Albania is.

In his meeting, the foreign secretary praised the progress made by the UK-Albania joint effort to curb irregular migration, mentioning that small boat arrivals through the English Channel from Albania to Britain fell by over 90% last year, thanks to the bilateral cooperation.

"Together we are reinforcing our partnership, strengthening European security, investing in the next generation of young people, building trade ties, and addressing corruption and organised crime to ensure that we build a stable and prosperous future for our countries," said Cameron.

However, Cameron reportedly cut short his Albania visit to "attend a meeting in London," while Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also delayed an overseas trip to attend the Cabinet, according to BBC.

It came after rumors that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to announce general elections day later on Wednesday.

Separately, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also canceled an appearance on ITV this evening, and Home Office ministers' diaries are "being cleared," added the reports.