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Greece threatens to veto 'Beleri', Rama for France 24: I don't believe this blockade will last!

2023-11-20 13:02:30Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Greece threatens to veto 'Beleri', Rama for France 24: I don't

Prime Minister Edi Rama does not believe that Greece will veto EU integration. In an interview with France 24, Rama says that such an action would not be serious.

Part of the interview

- Is the opening of negotiations with Ukraine, a country at war with Russia, an encouraging signal for you as well?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: We have to wait until the end because it is not official yet. It is certainly a very strong geopolitical decision and it is also proof of the fact that the European Union has been trying to become more geopolitical and less technocratic for some time, but of course there are concerns and we have to see how things will develop because the new conflict in The Middle East does not help, on the other hand there is a kind of general fatigue in the European and American public opinion towards this war, where one should be patient and not fall into the trap of polls and perceptions that are not positive to the will to continue at any price to infinity.

- Mr. Rama, your Albania has problems to join the European Club. Greece is blocking the letter of 27 member countries for the opening of chapters. In May of this year, the candidate for the Municipality of Himara, an Albanian of Greek origin, Fredi Beleri, who ran for the opposition, was arrested two days before the elections on suspicion of vote buying. But you are accused of preventing him from being elected mayor to keep permits under control in this developing coastal area. How do you answer?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I don't want to get into this controversy. I honestly do not believe that this blockage will last, because it would not be serious. On the other hand, it is only a matter of justice. If you look at the progress report, Albania is rated really well on justice reform issues. I am very pleased because Albania is the most advanced country in the entire Balkans for these issues.

- However, in your country there is also the Greek minority, approximately 1% of the population. Do you hope to reconcile with Greece?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Listen, we have strategic relations with Athens, and on the other hand, when you talk about the Greek minority, I want to clarify, as you said, the candidate was an Albanian of Greek origin, and his opponent in the election was also an Albanian of Greek origin. Then this cannot be an issue of the Greek minority!

- I said it at the beginning, on November 7 you signed an agreement with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of the conservative right, a surprising and unusual migration agreement. Sofi Samai explains why.

Reporter: Signed on November 7, the agreement between Rome and Tirana provides that migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by the Italian Navy can be accommodated in reception centers on the other side of the Adriatic Sea, in Albania. The two buildings, to be funded by the conservative right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni, will open next spring, as the prime minister hopes.

These buildings will house around 3,000 people who will stay for as long as it takes to complete the asylum or repatriation procedures. It could be about 39,000 immigrants per year, not including pregnant women and children.

- Why this surprise agreement that caught everyone by surprise?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: A very simple reason must be emphasized. It is true that Albania is not yet a member of the EU, but it is a fully European country, neighboring Italy, and if the same agreement had been made with an EU country, it would not be news of the day at all. But the fact that this agreement is made with a non-member country causes, not only news, but also conspiracy theories and suspicions that are not serious, for me. If we raise questions about the method, we must raise questions about the entire European Union, we must raise questions about the method in all EU countries, because these reception centers are not new. It is a reception center that is standard in all EU countries.

Only that it is externalized, as you said well, outside the territory of the EU. Even in your country, this agreement has aroused surprise, more than 30,000 immigrants who can arrive annually in one of the reception centers will be located in the area of ​​Shengjin, 75 km from Tirana. Some Albanians fear that this measure will endanger the local tourism industry.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Why should we be scandalized if it is externalized from a European Union country to a fully European country that is a neighbor of this European country? We should not be scandalized by this, we should think about how we should all react to this phenomenon that is getting bigger and bigger and that no one has given an answer to. Perhaps reception centers are not the real solution, but it is not for us to remind Europe. We are just giving a little help to a country that is not only a neighbor, but with which we have been deeply connected for a long time. On the other hand, I must say that it is not about 36,000 people, but about a reception center with 3,000 places available. This means that there will be 3000 people in Albania and no more, if there is rotation this is something normal, there may be more people who are expected and whose request is examined in Albania. But there are 3000 people. And I don't think these 3000 people will shake the tourism industry. Because we have already sheltered 4000 or so Afghans...

-In 2021. You are social-democratic, when NGOs like Amnesty International consider this illegal agreement with devastating consequences for immigrants who can be subjected to long isolation and other abuses, this agreement that excludes only children and pregnant women , are you not afraid that it will help the development of Albanian human trafficking?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I find all this difficult to understand. I repeat, this is not the only reception center in Europe, it has the same standard and nature as those in Greece. Greece is a member of the EU and I do not know if there is any difference and where those who criticize see the difference. And the 3,000 people who will come to Albania in the reception center become a trigger for the old chorus of stories with mafias, with traffickers, with human rights and others like these, it is not serious. We need to think more deeply about these things, we need to find solutions. Perhaps a multilateral European solution, perhaps what was surprising was the fact that it was a bilateral agreement.

Let's talk a little about your country, the World Bank predicts a growth of 3.6% for 2023 which is a little bit down actually. The commission proposes a growth plan for the Balkans of 6 billion euros, 2 billion in subsidies and the rest in foreign form. Where can it be invested with priority?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I am satisfied with the fact that the Albanian economy is considered by international financial institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank, as an economy with special resistance. At the time of the price crisis, the energy crisis, etc., we had the lowest inflation in the region, and on the other hand, we started this year, we will continue next year, with a significant increase in wages, which will bring the average wage to public sector in 900 euros. Until 5-6 years ago, this was something unimaginable. On the other hand, we have high hopes for the European Union and the growth plan because this is important, not only for Albania, but for the entire region.

- You have the impression that the European Commission, the European countries are more convinced of the geopolitical interest of the integration of the Balkan countries, but there are still problems between them, especially between Serbia and Kosovo, with very visible tensions. How do you think the Club of 27 countries can be expanded with countries that still have strong tensions between them?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Perhaps, it is what you said, and rightly so. Perhaps this is all the more reason to integrate them. From a geopolitical point of view, it would be suicidal for the European Union to exclude the region or some countries. It should do the opposite, it should include and unite because it is the only way to achieve final peace in the region. Yes, there are occasional problems, there are setbacks and setbacks, but the overall framework of the region is much better than it was 10 years ago. And this is thanks to the European Union and the attraction that the European Union enjoys in these countries.

- To end it in a more positive way, this year the European Literature Prize was awarded to the novel entitled "Expansion" by Robert Menasse, a humorous and very European story, with many characters, especially a Prime Minister, former basketball player, painter, anti-conformist, maybe it reminds you of someone, but also disappointed by the inability of all 27 countries to overcome their national egotisms to open the club to more Europhiles than them, this also reminds you of someone I believe?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Yes, yes, it reminds me of someone, and I am glad that this someone has inspired someone to do something that is not boring in the EU because we need a happier, more optimistic and fresher EU.


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