TIRANA, March 16  -- Albania has officially asked Russia to lift ban on its agricultural products, local media reported on Monday.

Albanian Ambassador in Moscow Arben Gazioni on Monday met with senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance discussing the possibility to lift the food and agricultural products ban imposed at the end of last year.

According to Albanian Telegraphic Agency, the two sides agreed on the need to speed up efforts to solve the issue, by signing first a bilateral protocol in the field of veterinary protection.

Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance decided to ban fruits and vegetable imports from Albania starting from December 8, 2014, arguing that Albanian products were accompanied by forged phytosanitary certificates.