Rama responds to Mitsotakis, after not inviting him to Balkan dinner in Athens

While stressing that he did not react earlier because he did not want to disturb the host and his guests, “adding the noise before they finished their work”, Rama through a long reaction on Twitter adds that “hopes very much for the meeting to be productive and, of course, better not have seen the dinner used to send Albania a controversial message against the much more ambitious goal of the” initiative.

Edi Rama: Here is my answer to all of them, in Greece, Albania or elsewhere, who commented in different ways or were confused by my absence in Athens, but also for journalists who sought my opinion and received no answers before the event. The reason is simple: I did not want to disturb the host and his guests, adding the noise before my good friends gathered in Athens finish their work. I am happy that Kyriacos took the initiative to break bread with very important leaders and to discuss the European future of the Balkans in the context of Russian aggression. The region needs Greece to get more involved on our common road. I have always told him or other Greek friends, publicly saying on several occasions, that I sincerely believe their country has a natural role to play in the Balkans in view of its EU profile and experience. I hope the meeting was productive, and of course, I would rather not have seen the dinner used to send Albania a contradictory message towards the much more ambitious goal of the initiative, and I hope that this unfortunate fact will not confuse it. Dear guests. As for me, speaking, communicating, arguing with friends, allies, partners, and neighbors in the first place is the essence of international policy and, always trying, putting yourself in the other place is a must. Even more when things seem to go wrong. Next October, Albania will chair this year's Berlin Process Summit in Tirana. Of course, my dear friend and highly respected colleague in Athens has been invited to attend and I could never imagine answering by nine, inviting the Greek president, for whom I have even the highest respect. I understand the pressure of third parties, eager to seize every opportunity to make a mountain from a moth hill. But we all have much bigger challenges ahead, there are real mountains to climb. What should unite us in such troubled times for the sake of our people, our countries, our region, our Europe is greater than what separates us. Many are at risk globally so that we can become a hostage to the inner tribal policy.