Prime Minister Edi Rama received the President of the United Arab Emirates yesterday. In his speech honoring him with the Grand Star of Public Gratitude, Rama also recalled Sheikh Muhammed Bin Zayed's assistance to Albania after the devastating earthquake of 2019.
“I will never forget that when I came to you after the devastating earthquake, which left thousands of families homeless, you took my hand and said: Brother, you and your people are not alone! And today, a beautiful new neighborhood with over a thousand apartments stands as proof that you mean what you say and say exactly what you mean. As a soldier by training and by calling, you have chosen to be a brother in arms of Peace.
I remember your words: “In our religion we say: 'O God, You are peace and from You comes peace.' The search for peace is an innate principle, but principles only take on meaning when they are transformed into action.”
Where else, and under whose leadership other than yours, could the co-signing of the Document on Human Fraternity have come about, between the successor of Saint Peter and the followers of the Prophet?
And how could the Abrahamic Accords, so vital to the Middle East and inspiring to the entire world, have taken shape without your courage and sincere love for peace?
Few may remember it, but the tradition of the Prophet teaches us that when you love your brother for the sake of God, you should tell him. A man said to the Prophet, peace be upon him:
"O Messenger of God, I love that man."
And the Prophet asked him: “Did you tell him?”
"No."
"Then go and tell me."
And he went, saying:
“I love you for God’s sake.”
And the other one replied:
"May He for whose sake He loves me love you also."
"So today, Your Highness, as a brother, I want to express with a public gesture my love and loyalty to you as a bearer of the light of reason in a world that loses it every day and grows darker and darker," said Rama.