TIRANA, Jan 27 /ATA/ “ Chancellor Merkel has reasserted her personal commitment and of Germany to support the process of reconstruction with the donors’ conference and beyond that through other mechanisms,” PM Edi Rama told the media briefing in Berlin.
PM Rama spoke about the meeting with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and her support for the process of integration and opening of accession talks.
“This meeting with Chancellor Merkel was held as part of reconstruction efforts. Of course the Chancellor wanted to get other items included on the agenda, but the most important thing is that the first part of the meeting was dedicated to reconstruction and post-earthquake situation about which Chancellor Merkel was well informed. She is very much fond of statistics and figures and there is no doubt she is a one-off in this regard, with detailed knowledge about what has happened and what will happen in the future. Of course, the most important thing is that she has re-asserted her personal commitment and of Germany to support the process of reconstruction at the donors’ conference and beyond through other mechanisms.”
Concerning the donors’ conference, Rama said that it has been organized by the new President of EC who has invited all the countries. As to the output, it depends very much on the participation.”
We have not set high expectations. We have explained to the Chancellor our entire program in terms of funding alternatives, we have also spoken about some issues which I cannot disclose right now. For sure, everything that will come from the donor conference will be positive. We have not set, I said, an expectation ceiling and of course we do not expect the donor conference to meet all our needs. The needs are great, but we are prepared to meet all the needs in a few steps. So I’m calm in this regard,” Rama said.
PM Rama confirmed that the meeting with Chancellor Merkel touched on the process of EU accession and opening of talks.
“This time, the Chancellor has been clear, something it has not done last time confirming Germany’s full support to push ahead with this process. Of course we touched on the main facet related to the process, the internal discussion of EU, new methodology, proposals, counter proposals, progress of the process and the bottom line which I have conveyed to the Chancellor, it is important for us to deliver on the homework which is in our interest, neither of the Chancellor nor of Germany, of France, the Netherlands. Once they are ready, we will enter a completely new stage.”
In reply to the question whether justice reform has had any impact on the approach of opening the accession talks, Rama said: In the case of Germany and its Chancellor, justice reform has had a wide and profound impact.
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