TIRANA, June 4 /ATA/-Prime Minister Edi Rama appreciated the issue of fight against extremism a sensitive topic of strategic significance while he highlighted that religious harmony in Albania is a heritage for his compatriots.
During a panel discussion attended by the representatives of the region, PM Rama said that this heritage must be preserved, but even conveyed to the coming generations.
“We have gathered to discuss on a sensitive topic of strategic significance. Religious tolerance in Albania is a real heritage and as Pope Francis has put it, it’s a “fraternity”. This is heritage we must preserve and transmit to the coming generations”, said PM Rama.
Speaking about religious harmony in the country, the prime minister stated that Albania has faced its challenges in this direction and expressed the strong will of our country to work for maintaining peace.
“Irrespective of violent extremism and radicalism we have reached a common good understanding of all the countries getting united on the principles and values of the way of life we have chosen to live. We are willing to work with all those committed to this fight for civilization”, said PM Rama.
On his part, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan evaluated highly the important conference against extremism.
“Big problems are nothing else but small problems gathered together and 99% of them are resolved through discussion and advice. The international spirit in the process is important. Hence, I congratulate the Prime Minister of Albania for the initiative he is supporting”, said Prince Ghazi.
While he considered extremism an ideological challenge, he said that Jordan runs special programmes on all those who turn to ISIS.
While the Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj shared some figures on the number of Kosovars who have joined the extremism network, those detained or that are under penal procedure.
“Terrorists are not Islamic, but terrorists. In Syria, there are still 59 Kosovo men, 49 women and 59 children born there. 23 men, 7 women and 3 children have returned to Kosovo. Kosovo police has detained 30 men, 30 women and some children who wanted to go there. There is an investigation process underway: 35 are cuffed, 116 are under penal procedure and 40 people are under investigation. Moreover, the terrorists make use of charity networks, religious networks and collaborate with organized crime. The terrorists have also exploited unemployment in Kosovo”, said Haradinaj.
While the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov said that ethnic tolerance is the only medicine for the Balkans.
He said that Corridor 8 will make the Balkans look differently.
While drawing the attention to Albania’s role for maintaining peace and religious harmony, he said that the country must get a date for opening of the EU accession negotiations so that to support the efforts of the prime minister of this country./z.tosku//e.caushi/p.s./
