Kukes, Albanian, 26 June 2010 (WAM) - Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan last night inaugurated the Sheikh Zayed International Airport in the Albanian city of Kukes in presence of Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta, Interior Minister Lulzim Basha, Abdul Hadi Abdul Wahid Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to Greece & non-resident Ambassador to Albania, Mohammed Saif Hilal Al Shihi, Director of European Affairs at the UAE Foreign Ministry, senior Albanian officials and scores Albanian citizens.

Upon arriving, Sheikh Abdullah said: "I was very sad when I visited this city 11 years ago. I kept remembering smiles on the faces of people here despite the hardship they faced during that time.""We, in the UAE, are proud of our relations with Albania, and of our brothers the Albanians. We hope to see these relations developing and growing and we wish your country further progress and prosperity. The same wish goes to your neighbours in Kosovo."Sheikh Abdullah expressed the hope that the Sheikh Zayed International Airport in Kukes will serve as a symbol for the strong relations between the two countries.

Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta said: "This Airport shall bear for ever the name of a great world personality, as Sheikh Zayed was and remains by virtue of his work; it was thanks to his personal engagement that the Kukes Aerodrome adjusted at that time to carry humanitarian aids directly from UAE in Kukes has become an airport of international standards.""Bearing the name of His Highness, Sheikh Zayed, this Airport shall be an exceptional monument for life; it will not only bring to memory this extraordinary generosity by Emirates during a hard time for the Albanian people and our nation; it will also be made available for the community there and for the further strengthening of bonds among Albania, Kosovo and UAE," he added.

A film on the life of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was shown during the ceremony. Sheikh Abdullah then toured the airport's departure and arrival terminals, control tower and runway.

Construction of the US$22 million Kukes international airport started in 2003. It has a 1,900-meter runway, with a control tower, an air navigation facility, an integral fire brigade building and stores.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.