The prime minister of Albania, Fatos Nano, has begun a two day visit to neighbouring Macedonia -- the first by an Albanian prime minister since Macedonia became independent.

A number of bilateral agreements have been signed and Mr Nano has said he hopes to show neighbours in the former Yugoslavia that the future of Europe depends on mutual cooperation.

Relations between Macedonia and Albania have been troubled in recent years.

Albania has expressed concern over the treatment of the large ethnic Albanian minority in Macedonia.

The Macedonians, for their part, have been pressing Albania to take more action against gangs of bandits, which -- since Albania's civil unrest -- have been roaming border areas.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service