The Prime Minister, Edi Rama, stated that the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, did not influence the government's decision to close the Turkish college and kindergarten. In an interview in Euronews Albania, he added that Erdogan cannot give orders in a sovereign country.
Rama said that Erdogan has made a request, but in specific cases it has been acted according to the laws in the country.
" Here in Albania there are many institutions that belong to this entire chain. President Erdogan has not given any order and does not give any order. You cannot give it to a sovereign country. It is not an order, but a request, historical.
On the other hand, it has been a request that has always been made. In the meantime, we have acted according to the laws of the Republic of Albania. We did not act according to the opinions or speculations that are made here, but according to the laws of the Republic of Albania", emphasized Rama.
Rama stated that the decision to close the Turkish college, "Mehmet Akif" came because the activity of this educational institution was being carried out in a building, for which it had not received the approval of the Ministry of Education. Rama said that the closure of the Turkish kindergarten, "Zubeyde Hanim", was done because the standards were not met.
"First, it is not the first educational institution to be closed. We have closed many educational institutions. We have closed 18 universities. We have subsequently closed certain programs, certain classes, nurseries, kindergartens, schools. On what basis have we closed them? We have not closed them on the basis of where they come from, nor who they belong to, but on the basis of the law. For the specific case, the legislation is very clear and simple.
Surprisingly, while several similar institutions have been closed, no one has said anything. Meanwhile, here's a part that jumps up. The legal basis is very clear. You cannot open an activity in a certain building without first obtaining approval from the Ministry of Education. VKM is done to enforce the law, not to avoid the law. The kindergarten was closed with the motivation given by the Ministry of Education" , said the head of the government. Rama denied that Erdogan intervened to remove the head of the Muslim community.
"The Albanian Muslim community is based on self-organization and self-government. The government of Albania does not decide on communities ", said Rama.
The number one of the government also said that the opening of the Namazgja Mosque in Tirana is not in the hands of the government.
"The inauguration of the great mosque is a matter that the government of Albania does not decide. No one is holding it hostage because the Great Mosque is being built with the contributions of the Turkish Muslim Committee. They are the ones who are building it in an agreement with the Albanian Muslim Community. They decide when the works are finished and when the doors should be opened. It is not decided by the government of Albania", said Rama.