We will co-operate on those issues Albania unites us

Voice of AmericaMr. Prime Minister, in your address today you said that Albania will do its part to make our future and our world better. And obviously the main contribution you can give to your country. You have just begun the second four-year mandate of governance and the mandate you have received this time by voters can be named among the most powerful post-communist governments in Albania. In the past four years, you have responded to criticism often that the country's situation was very bad by democratic governance, and then you blamed the alat in the LSI coalition. Now that you have all the votes enough, what change are we expected to see?

Edi Rama: First by praising a heavy legacy of the past does not mean that we have blamed or blamed, persons or particular subjects. On the other hand, I have appreciated and will always appreciate what the first term coalition has done in the works of a series of reforms that otherwise would have been impossible. Of course, even the June 25th vote made it very clear, a new site has been opened, and we will do our best to write this new page honestly, with our mother-in-law and dignity, in the function of a better Albania, with a stronger economy, with more real employment, more foreign investment, and of course with much more dignified services to citizens, from the simplest service in sports, to the important public services, education, health and so forth.

Voice of America: Mr. Rama, in your address to the parliament, you have manifested a reflective tone to the opposition by inviting them to discuss matters of importance to the country together. In fact, there is great disbelief in you. Democrat President Lulzim Basha has repeated several times that the May agreement between you is dead. The LSI is also as tough on you. What are the chances of the political climate in Albania changing.

Edi Rama: Each chooses its own approach and path. But one thing is certain that no access and no road can exclude Albania and the fact that Albania needs all. This is our approach. This is our path, and we will continue to insist that in any case when the opportunity arises, we invite other parties to better co-operation in the country, as the country has lost a lot of time in conflicts and protagonisms that at the end of the day have not brought any added value. It's time to be together for Albania on what the Eagles unite us as we are obviously divided into many that make us different for good luck. And for all that we're separated, we're gonna continue to crash into our accounts. It's very simple.

Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister these days in Tirana, hundreds of Shkoza residents are complaining about the destruction of homes. The school seems to symbolize in some way all the complex problems caused over the years in Albania with the property issue. Tirana mayor said municipal responsibility is solely social. One of the common anaques of residents is the way the state dealt with them, without an official announcement being issued to complain in courts, some complain about selective legalisations, others say the project has been changed and more houses are now to be destroyed, so there is some dissatisfaction with a kind of state arrogance towards them. Do you have any comment on their case?

Edi Rama: The school represents nothing and deserves nothing, I believe, comment to New York and Washington. However, you asked the question, and I answer. It's a process like many other processes. It has been and remains desirable to tear down illegal construction where infrastructure development is hampered for common good. And who built without permission, taking the main excises, taking in space and development, can certainly not pretend to be decapitated, not compensated, nor expropriated, but simply should and simply deserve to be treated carefully by not leaving him homeless, but by giving him the opportunity to rent paid by collectiveity, that is, from all the community for a certain period of time, until families are able to accommodate where they will find opportunities to accommodate themselves. This is Shkoza, and I have stories of pride in propotence, in states of love and country-states that really have no place. The state is tasked with serving citizens and supporting the entire transformation process to have Albania with state, labour and prosperity. Making a country, doing business, and doing well doesn't have a lot of roads. The road is clear. And there will surely be concerns of this nature. But these are concerns that belong to a very small minority compared to the huge importance that solving these problems has for the majority.

Voice of America: Mr. Rama, after almost a year, the decree of former President Bujar Nishani, who breaks the so-called law on waste enforcement for recycling has been introduced into parliament's programme. However, your parliamentary group chairman said you would withdraw. Why the change of attitude? And how concretely it will be realised as the president's decree must be voted on by parliament. What is your government's plan, to adopt the decree, so bring down the current bill and then draft a new law on the matter?

Edi Rama: The leader of the group has been very clear. We will bring back a broad and depleting discussion with the public on this subject, which kind of charlatans, kind of fungi, kind of political- forwards into the political and media bin seeking to get their points by defrauding the public. And, of course, in respect to the high and fair sensitivity of the public, we will take all the time necessary for people to realize that this is not about all the media and political pots that vortex in the function of purely self-political agendas, but it's just about a modernisation process of Albania and the possibility that Albania has a recycling capacity of green waste as all other countries have. We're the only place we don't have. However, there is no urgency; and let the dogs bark; and the caravan will move forward.

ZAmerica's name: Mr. Rama, in the parliamentary programme there is a bill of decorations during the time of dictatorship, proposed by you and Mr. Balla, since the end of 2015, which was also announced for the withdrawal. How can such a change in attitude be explained in such a short time as soon as the proposal is included in the program, you attract it?

Edi Rama: (Laughter) It's not just, you said yourself, it's been a long time and it requires a revision into the function of the need to improve that legal initiative further, so we don't really have to be surprised. On the contrary, there is good news when a majority, as you said, powerful, out of popular voices, has the capacity to reflect in the function of respect for people's sensitivities, and in the function of self-respect, so that any initiative can be as perfect and as current. It's very simple.

ZAmerica's name: Mr. Rama, last year you closed a three-year deal with the IMF. What will be the further relationship with this institution? It's going to be that classic from Article 4 that has every member country, or you're going to look for another deal, but in easier terms than the previous one?

Edi Rama: It's a new programme, which is inside let's say the IMF portfolio, is not the continuation of the same programme, and it's perfectly normal in a process where we already have guaranteed a very stable macroeconomic stability and where the IMF's role is obviously not as present as it was, but it remains necessary because it is an important partner in a process where we need to make even greater progress.

ZAmerica's name: Mr Rama, one of the points of the May agreement with the DP was that for electoral reform. The DP officially requested the establishment of a parliamentary commission on the issue. Will the SP seek to change the current proportional-regional system?

Edi Rama: First of all, we have no reason to go into detail. Second, the Democratic Party must learn that it has all the right to ask, but it also has the obligation to listen to and meet the requirements of the other side so that there is dialogue. And we cannot walk with the menu predetermined by the Democratic Party, but we certainly have to go into a process where the parties interact and get well, including on the agenda of dialogue issues of common importance in their views. By that I mean we fully understand the request of the Democratic Party, but the table of dialogue cannot be a table, as I said, with a menu defined by one side. The table of dialogue must include several topics, where electoral reform is certainly very important and we are ready to engage in it, but we will not move in this process according to the pace of the Democratic Party, but according to a pace agreed together whether the Democratic Party really wants dialogue.

ZAmerica's name: Mr Rama, we have earlier indicated that you will co-operate with Turkey to create an Albanian flag airline. In May of this year you stated that you hoped that this year's bow would launch the first flights and that within three months you would be given in other details. Where is this process?

Edi Rama: When the time comes, we'll give them other details.