Rama: Albania, an asset for Europe

“I think that the European Union project, drafted by the founding fathers, is the best project that our civilization could have ever imagined. Albania, same as Balkan, is part of this project. The desire of the Albanian people, same as that of other Balkan countries, is very strong to join with the European family. I think that Albania should have received the status in December. This is not good for Albania or the region, because the status is not membership. The accession will be after 10 years, but this is an important phase to start woring seriously for this modernization period, a process that could have been of a better quality thanks to the negotiations of this integration instrument, which is unique”, Rama declared.

According to Rama, the refusal of the candidate status this December was influenced by the elections of the European Union. He commented that Europe, more than strategic, has become tactical. When asked about the realization of some promises regarding fight against corruption, Rama declared:

“We are building a rule of law. It is not the government the one that should investigate. We have an objective to realize wth the judiciary reform, which should be based on values, principles and the mechanisms of an European country that respects the European standards and the criteria for a really fair justice. This is the reason why we need the candidate status, to start our big project of reforms, which will take time but will certainly lead us to the right direction”, Rama underlined.

When asked about the economic development plans, Rama underlined that the country has natural assets and a young population. With the help of an International Monetary Fund program, Albania has earned the market’s trust.

Rama mentioned that the entire Balkan region has changed and it is not as before. Rama said that the 100th anniversary of the First World War marked the first year of peace and without any conflict in Balkan, because all countries have agreed through their leaders to work for peace in Europe and unite in this extraordinary project, similar to that of the United States of America. As for the comparison of the integration path with Serbia, Rama declared that Albania is an European country.

“We are not a Muslim country, but we are an European country where Muslims and Christians live in harmony. We are unique about this, in the sense that Christians celebrate for Ramadan and Muslims celebrate Christmas like Christians. This Albania is an asset for Europe. Presenting Albania as a Muslim country is wrong, and those who describe Albania’s Muslim history as an obstacle for Europe, then I am sorry for their ignorance and their capacity to understnd that Europe is not a Christian club, but something bigger, more humane and more wonderful than this. I have never heard someone talk about France as Christian France, but it is the secular France which certainly has both Christians and Muslims”, Rama declared.

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