Prime Minister Edi Rama has faced off in an interview with the Italian journalist of RAI 3's "Report" program, who conducted an investigation into the Albania-Italy agreement on migrants.
Rama was also asked about Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, who he called a "criminal sentenced to 17 years in prison in Albania".
"You have a debule for Becchetti. The gentleman is a criminal sentenced to 17 years in prison in Albania for money laundering and other crimes. The story is not closed, I don't want to comment but for the moment we are in a legal battle with the gentleman who for us is a criminal," Rama said.
While the journalist labelled Albania a "narco-state", Rama said this is a falsehood as our country has opened negotiations for EU membership. He denied figures that organised crime has increased during his rule.
"What can you call a country that opened negotiations with the EU? And opening negotiations with the EU is not like doing a show, but doing homework while you are monitored," Rama said.