ROME, March 31 /ATA/ – The former Mayor of Turin Piero Fassino praised Albania’s decision to send a medical team to help in the fight against the growing number of coronavirus cases in Italy, saying this is a lesson of humanity and European spirit.
“Your country is not yet in Europe, but it is an example,” Fassino said in an interview with the Italian newspaper, as he commented the Prime Minister Edi Rama’s gesture to send a team of medical personnel to the neighbouring country.
“His gesture of solidarity with Italy did not surprise me, he is a man capable of generous gestures,” said former Turin Mayor and Italian politician Piero Fassino, who knows Albanian PM Edi Rama for 25 years now.
“From Albania we learn a lesson of humanity, fraternity and European spirit that should make people who are prisoners of fear and selfishness in Europe think,” Fassino went on saying.
Did Albania, with its 10 doctors and 20 nurses sent to Italy, give an example of solidarity to Europe?
“No nation would come out of this crisis alone and Prime Minister Rama’s speech is a demonstration of this.”
Weren’t you surprised?
“No, because we are friends, I know its human and political depth.”
When and how did you meet?
“In the late 90s. He was one of the main exponents of the Movement for Democracy that arose in Albania following the collapse of the ‘pyramid schemes’. Back then, I was serving in the government as Minister of Foreign Trade and I was in charge of relations with the land of Eagles, when Rama used to serve as the Minister of Culture. But, I came to know him much better especially when he became mayor of Tirana in 2000 and, thanks to his remarkable management capabilities, he changed the face of the city.”
What kind of man is he?
“He is a versatile man, a painter, a successful writer, a basketball player, he is known for his brightly colored clothes and, as a Prime Minister elected in 2013, he is capable of courageous actions: the first Albanian leader who visited Belgrade to overcome the historic conflicts between Albanians and Serbs. And he convinced Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to visit Tirana, restoring a relationship that was broken since Kosovo war.”
Albania has always been close to Italy, also for economic reasons. Is this how this gesture of closeness is explained?
“Our ties are very close, many young people come to attend our universities, especially in engineering and medicine. In Albania, Italian TV channels are watched every evening and our country is the first economic partner, let alone the assistance Italy has given since the exodus of the 20,000 Albanians in 1996. Albanians do not forget this solidarity of ours. Rama’s gesture is not the result of an economic interest…“
And what is it then?
“As prime minister he is strongly involved in the process of European integration of the Balkans and he is leading Albania towards joining the European Union and Italy is the country that has supported Tirana’s European integration more than any other country.”
And so he didn’t miss the opportunity…
“He set the example of what Europe should actually be.”
An example set by those who are not part of Europe: in some ways paradoxical, don’t you think?
“Yes, Albania is not yet in Europe, but it is more supportive than those in Europe who are already there, like the Netherlands.”
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