Rama from Brussels: We change course immediately if negotiations with the EU do not open

Prime Minister Edi Rama says Albania will completely change course and will seek to separate from Northern Macedonia if negotiations with the European Union are not opened.

From Brussels, where official visit is located, Rama said in an interview that Bulgaria is holding negotiations for northern Macedonia hostage, and therefore is penalising Albania, which is in the same process.

Interview:

Mr. Prime Minister, we received positive signals from last night's meeting with Mr. Borell, what about a possible decision-making on June 6th for Albania?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Now the situation is known and repeated what is repeated may not be worthwhile. However, we are repeating that it is very clear that for Albania the opinion is extremely positive, we expect another report-progress and we are convinced it will be even more positive because many things have happened and are all in the right direction. Albania's image is completely different today in every respect. Albania is considered a model for the region, not only here, but in The Hague it is very clear.

However, yesterday the conversation has focused on the socioeconomic situation, as a result of the consequences of the war and for the sake of truth, if we could share it with public opinion in Albania, we would have really heard situations far more problematic than our situation, in terms of financial sustainability, in terms of further financing of the economy, in terms of inflation and so forth.

As far as the rest of us are concerned, we're in a position that's known, we'll wait for the French presidency. The question here is to Bulgaria that has taken Macedonia hostage and that, as a result, has made us hostage to a huge stalemate that we have no connection at all.

In the meantime, I believe everyone knows that this situation cannot go on any longer. However, we will change the course immediately, as we have said and as we have received from the National Council in the event it does not pass into the next phase our country sits formally on the negotiating table.

Mr. Prime Minister, will assist or assist the European Union, the 6 countries of the Western Balkans, given the developments and consequences that may result from the Russia-Ukraine war, and in what form?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: The European Union is a heavy and big machine, which even when it has turns to take, takes it very slowly, but we have, for some time, worked with certain capitals, making some of our proposals because there's also a new will to hear from us and when I say from us not only Albania, but also other countries, but also given the fact that we have now guaranteed a direct access to the main Chancellorship and we have an ongoing dialogue, so we are no longer at a time when a conversation between the prime minister of Albania and the president of France or the president was a major event that was reported on television. These are routines today, but everything is open and everything can happen. There may be an important change. It could happen that nothing could happen, that's all to be seen.

After Serbia, Mr. Prime Minister and Macedonia are importing goods. Does this show that “Open Balkan” is functioning and what is expected to happen with Montenegro? A little earlier at a press conference, you confirmed the invitation you have made to Montenegro's elected Albanian prime minister, what will be the position of this country?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: The Open Balkans work and will always work better. Now we expect Montenegro to join, so it's a matter of time, I've always said, it's a matter of time for everyone to join in fact that there's no other way to do this than cooperation, cooperation, so it's certainly a waste of time for those who hesitate or refuse to join, but we don't have time to lose.

Before last night's dinner, Serbia's President AleksandarVučić told his media accompanying him that Serbia would reconsider its position if Kosovo is to seek European membership. Albania has a stance on this? What will be her vote?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: That's not gonna talk at all. We're very clear. We don't have any electronics. We are in absolute support of Kosovo at every step and everything that connects Albania, Kosovo and the international community. While we have a completely different approach when it comes to normalising relations step by step on the economic side, in terms of freedom of movement and others, with Serbia in parallel with the battle on the table, the diplomatic battle for dialogue, and so on because we believe this is the way, this is the way, and in turn we fully respect the choice made by legitimate, voted authorities, mandated, responsible for Kosovo to have a completely different approach to this respect. But when it comes to Kosovo's exposes in the international arena, we are 100% with Kosovo. Serbia certainly is in its right to think differently, we regret Serbia in this case, but we will support Kosovo! /tvclean. al