Merkel’s meeting with Rama: Earthquake, a serious hit for Albania

Merkel: For me, it is particularly necessary to organize the fundraising conference, in order to help the people who lost their homes after the November 26^th earthquake, which left a large number of victims.

Germany will participate in this fundraiser. The cooperation and assistance offered by the region were impressive. However, the earthquake was a serious hit to Albania.

The Albanian Prime Minister declared that for Albania it would be impossible to realize the reconstruction alone.

We are grateful that you found time for this meeting. I have arrived especially to discuss the fundraiser conference and the great need that Albania has to find the support of our friends and partners in the difficult process of reconstruction.

This reconstruction, based on the damage report that was assessed in cooperation with the EU, the USA, and the WB, has a cost that goes beyond our capabilities if we had to confront it alone.

I would like to thank you with gratitude for the solidarity shown right from the first few minutes; for the interest shown by you and for including German emergency structures in our aid, as well as from other countries of the region and beyond. This has been very comforting for the Albanian people.

I am also pleased to discuss Albania’s European integration prospects and its regional cooperation, where Germany’s role and your role, have been extraordinary, helping to open a new chapter of cooperation within the Berlin Process, which needs to be taken further.

I would like to express once again my appreciation for the work of the European Commission.

What you outlined is very important. It is a clearer geopolitical dimension as well, besides the traditional technical dimension of the Commission. It will be a great help to us and the entire region.

The judiciary reform was also part of the meeting with Chancellor Merkel, and for this, there was a specific request:

Merkel: On behalf of the German government, I underline that we support Albania’s European Perspective, and also for the rest of the Western Balkans.

We want these countries to get closer to the EU, and we want first of all to open the EU accession negotiations through the March Council.

Both countries have made great achievements, which we discussed in the past council as well.

Let’s hope that we are going to have the desired results in March.

Once again, Chancellor Merkel supported the opening of the EU negotiations for Albania and Northern Macedonia. But will this be enough to change the stance of the French president?

This remains to be seen in the next meeting of the EU leaders, in Zagreb.

Muhamed Veliu, Top Channel, Berlin

Top Channel