Scholz's statement, Rama: Balkans Open is a Berlin Process Implementation Unit

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama has talked about developments at the annual Summit of the Southeast European Co-operation Process (SEECP) in Thessaloniki.

During an interview given to T OVVA, that the focus of the summit is on the non-immediate situation, rather extraordinary, because of the war in Ukraine, the consequences in the economy, the short- and medium-term perspective of both aspects of both, and of course the European Union's relations with the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, where there has naturally been a discussion of the future European Council and the situation still blocked by Bulgaria, but we have talked about the Open Balkans.

As for statements by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has announced a upcoming summit of Western Balkan countries, the Berlin Initiative known to be, Rama said the Berlin and the Open Balkans process are not two controversial beginnings.

Part of the interview:

Question: Mr. Prime Minister, where did the discussions on the leadership panel focus on this Sam here in Thessaloniki?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: This was a summit of a initiative that has been staffed by the state for many years. Greece runs the initiative and in the end is also a meeting of leaders, which generally focuses on actuality. Today, of course, we have had the situation of no small at all, rather extraordinary, focus, because of the war in Ukraine, the consequences in the economy, the short- and medium-term perspective in terms of both aspects, and of course the European Union's relations with the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, where there has naturally been a discussion of the future European Council, and the still stalled situation all day from Bulgaria, but we have talked about the Open Balkans.

The question -- Mr. Prime Minister, there has been a recent statement by German Chancellor Scholz, who is visiting and developing the tour in the Balkans, who has announced a upcoming summit of Western Balkan countries -- the Berlin Initiative that is known -- what news is expected from this, and by the time this summit happens, there will be new developments for Albania and Macedonia that await June 23rd?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Of course, the re-taking of the Berlin Process after the change in the Chancellor and re-arrangement of the Chancellorship and personally German Chancellor for the Berlin Process is good news. The Berlin process is a let's say, the behaviour of the Western Balkan countries and it is a space where those milestones, as it were, are concrete objectives and incentives for concrete work in the Open Balkans. So, the Berlin Process and the Open Balkans are not only two controversial initiatives, there are not two competitive initiatives, but there are two supplementary initiatives where one is at a principle level, the other is at a concrete level. The Open Balkans is a Berlin Process Implementation Unit.

Question- There have also been very powerful statements by Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who is hosting today's Summit concerning the rapid integration of the Western Balkans, especially Albania and Northern Macedonia. How do you appreciate his attitude, and are you expected to do so?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Greece has been generally, despite any phase, bilateral relations have not been at the highest level, but even when it came down to integration and the performance of the integration process, Greece has always held a key position on the table of the European Council and I have not heard the Greek prime minister's statement you refer to, but certainly he has spoken about it, but I am not surprised at all, but it is the natural thing Greece has done again.

Q: Since Bulgaria is one of the founding countries of this co-operation initiative with Southeast Europe, did it have relaxing signals during today's meeting?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: The question of northern Macedonia is a Bulgarian internal policy issue, which means it's one of those issues that are always more complicated than they look and are related to domestic policy interests, much more than to the core of the issue itself.