Rama: Kosovo visa failure is shameful for EU

Rama in an interview for the German newspaper” Frankfurter Rundschau”, has said that Kosovo citizens previously in the former Yugoslavia and Serbia have been free to travel.

And now? Are they independent and free from dictatorship or rescuers holding them in some kind of prison?”, he said, until he commented on his reports with Serbia's president, Alexander Vuciq.

We have a good personal relationship, even though sometimes we disagree. For example, it says the “so-called Kosovo”. I say Kosovo's independent “ ”. We now settle our differences in a civilized manner”, Rama has said.

According to him, reconciliation between the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia will take time.

“Who would have thought that the Germans and the French would again be close partners so few years after World War II? The vision and political leadership are needed to further this process. But this process is going to happen, I'm sure. There is no turning back”, he said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama's full interview for the German newspaper” Frankfurter Rundschau”

Mr Rama, like many other German politicians, Chancellor Scholz is a lawyer. They are not artists, painters, or playing basketball. Do you have a different approach to politics?

Edi Rama: I think we should be careful with these kind of categories. There are good, bad people in every field, talented, and talented. I doubt it would be a good idea to have artists everywhere in politics.

But what is your recipe for success in politics? Is creativity or persistence, perhaps even the desire to find a less simple way?

Edi Rama: Surely creativity is required. I'd say commitment and will are just as important. Politics also requires much patience. Politicians who are impatient are lost.

How did you learn patience?

Edi Rama: I was born an impatient man. Perhaps my impatience made me feel like a longtime stranger who eventually led to the movement of democracy in the Albanian dictatorship in which I grew up. For me, politics was a difficult course of confrontation with patience. Especially party leadership. The leadership of a party is a Herculian task because there are so many different interests that need to comply. This is not about art and painting, but it's about colors, shapes, and harmonys. In government, each pen is one person, that's what makes it so complicated.

You included art in politics when you saw to it that Tirana's gray buildings were painted with bright colors. How did you get the idea?

Edi Rama: When I was elected mayor of Tirana in 2000, the city was in very bad shape. Only 78 lamps were left on the streets. The growing city had a budget of only about six million dollars, which was not enough for anything. Without permission, buildings were added everywhere and there was no rule. With the European Union's money, I came up with the idea that during the reconstruction, I will paint a street with colorful palaces. The idea spread beyond, until Tirana finally became colorful. This not only adorned the city but generally accelerated the change.

By the way, this was the first good news that came out of Albania in the world, after a long time.

To this day, there are many cliches for Albania. Unknown country in the middle of Europe, revenge, Kanun in the north, isolation, crime and mafia. What other cliche still characterizes Albania's image outside?

Edi Rama: It must be understood that today's Albania is completely different from isolated Albania under dictator Enver Hoxha, who was once considered the northern European “Cree”. We had almost no contact with foreigners, even when we did, with Marxist-Leninist groups from Germany, France or Brazil. That was incredible. I'll give you an example: Albania was a Marxist-Leninist country under a Stalinist regime. At Tirana Airport, there was a permafrost that cut all residents' hair because long hair or beards were not allowed. So Carl Marx was not allowed into the country either. If you take this as a base, then I have no doubt. No country in Europe has changed more in the last 30 years than Albania. I'm glad to hear that Albania must be a white sheet. Most of the time, I hear very different attritions. As a journalist, you know bad news is spread faster than good news. I hope Albania's image abroad will change. I see there are more and more positive reports about our country. This gives hope.

But when does hope run out? Albania has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2014. Eight years later, negotiations have not begun yet. We talked about patience. How patient are you with Brussels?

Edi Rama: Our patience is inexhaustible on this subject, because we have no choice. We're used to it. Albania has always been a game of other powers, and we have rarely been able to vote for ourselves. We're a small country, we've suffered a lot and we're not allowed to make decisions on our own. Now, for the first time, we have a free choice. We are Europeans and want to join the EU because we are part of the continent. Whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes, we're sticking to that goal.

As a victim of Russian aggression, Ukraine has a special status and can rely on quick negotiations. Is that not disappointing?

Edi Rama: No, this is an extraordinary situation, and the EU acted fairly. However, I told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that it can take too long. Northern Macedonia has been a candidate for membership for 17 years!

Northern Macedonia and Albania are closely linked when it comes to membership. Bulgaria has long blocked accession talks with northern Macedonia, and this has affected you. What is further received?

Edi Rama: The way Bulgaria treated it was a shame. Sofia has divided us more than it has united us. I hope that changes now.

Do you think you have enough support from the German government?

Edi Rama: I had good reports with Angela Merkel. She knew very well the potential, but also the risks in the Balkans. She had a vision and I'm very happy that Olaf Scholz is taking this vision further.

You mean the so-called Berlin Process for better regional co-operation among Western Balkan countries?

Edi Rama: Yes, Merkel was very committed. We want to increase trade and improve relations with each other. It went well for a while, but then it shook. Also because the EU did not do everything it could have done.

That's why you are working closer with Serbia? Belgrade has recently returned to Russia. Does that bother you?

Edi Rama: History makes the difference. We've suffered a lot from the Soviet Union and China. That's why we're pro-American. Serbia has another story, but Belgrade in no way supports Putin's war. But, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has a problem, as Serbia's economy is highly dependent on Russian gas and oil.

Do you have a good relationship with him?

Edi Rama: We have a good personal relationship, even though we sometimes disagree. For example, he says theso-called Kosovo “”. I say Kosovo's independent “ ”. We now settle our differences in a civilized manner.

Millions of Albanians live in several states, including Kosovo. The fact that Serbia does not yet recognise Kosovo does it affect Albania's EU integration?

Edi Rama: We are a nation, the same blood, and we speak the same language. But we live in two countries. The reconciliation between the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia will take time. Who would have thought that the Germans and the French would again be close partners so few years after World War II? The vision and political leadership are needed to further this process. But this process is going to happen, I'm sure. There's no going back.

Kosovo citizens still need visas to enter the EU. What does this have to do with the best integration of the Western Balkans?

Edi Rama: This is a disgrace to the EU! Kosovo citizens are the only ones on our continent not allowed to travel freely. They have lived before in the former Yugoslavia and Serbia and have been free to travel. And now? Are they independent and free from dictatorships, or are rescuers holding them in some type of prison?

There have recently been protests in Tirana. Are you not concerned that more people will be on the streets if inflation continues to grow and food becomes more expensive?

Edi Rama: Protests in Albania were not long possible. They are absolutely necessary for a democracy. If Germany cannot protect its population from inflation, what should Albania do? We have the lowest inflation in the region, though at the expense of a recession.

Despite economic progress, Albanians are continuing to leave the country. This should be alarming for you.

Edi Rama: Yeah. Unfortunately, history is our main export and that's not good. Let me answer that. The Balkans have never been a boring place. But we, the Balkans, want to become more common and normal. As common as the European Union. One country is common when everything works effectively like Germany. Just kidding, somebody once told me I could be mayor of Frankfurt. No, I'd rather not, I answered. Of course there are things that can be improved here, but Frankfurt is a settled and wealthy city. What should you rule in a perfect place?

What about the Berlin Mayor?

Edi Rama: I have a lot of connections in Berlin art field. Many of my friends there are a little disappointed, they say the city has become a little provincial. I can't judge. Maybe it's getting boring.

What would you like to do after your political career?

Edi Rama: Maybe design my clothes as a stylist.

Albania or abroad?

Edi Rama: Albania. Albania may seem boring. But not enough to quit.