TIRANA, September 28/ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama praised today the visiting EC President Ursula von der Leyen considering her a staunch advocate of Albania’s integration process, while praising the EC’s assistance to Albania, especially in the reconstruction program.
In a joint press conference with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, PM Rama said that, “The visit of EC President to Albania happens at an important moment for Albania’s progress on the path to the EU.”
Focusing on reconstruction process in Albania, the prime minister underlined the radical transformation of the conditions for learning and living of all those families that were severely affected by the earthquake.
“I believe that today we see with our own eyes that the reconstruction is bringing a new quality in the lives of the people and their children, a process that continues and where step by step all the wounds of that unforgettable tragedy are being closed”, said Rama.
PM Rama expressed his gratitude for everything von der Leyen has done since the first moment of receiving the news about the earthquake.
President von der Leyen pledged to make the funds available as soon as possible to the teams that were then engaged to do projects, public hearings, etc.
PM Rama said that this is evidence of the solidarity of the EU and this is an obvious, tangible and concrete reason not to lose patience with the EU which is really tedious in an aspect that we know very well, but it is at the same time a great positive force in the service of people and societies.
PM Rama said that he also talked to the President about the absurd situation where Albania is for the time being as a result of the block that Bulgaria has made to North Macedonia, keeping hostage the process.
PM Rama also said that, “We also talked about progress of the regional cooperation process”.
“Von der Leyen has been one of Merkel’s closest associates who started the Berlin Process and therefore knows the process, supports it and sees it as it is, in service of bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU, but also for its own growth, building of capacities within the Western Balkans “, said Rama.
PM Rama also said that on the eve of the Western Balkans summit, after a few days in Slovenia, we discussed all the challenges of this process. The President was right to highlight the significance of creating mutual trust between the parties (Kosovo-Serbia). It would be very difficult to reach the desired conclusion without the mutual trust between the parties “, concluded PM Rama. /j.p/p.s./
