TIRANA, Nov 4 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama stated on Thursday that the “Open Balkan” is the only way to expand the economic capacity of regional countries and to bolster peace in the region.
In a televised interview, Rama said that, “we have embraced this initiative for the sake of Albania and Albanians, not only Albania. And we strongly believe that this initiative, in view of the practical implementation of what are the principles and criteria of the Berlin Process is the only avenue to materialize the Berlin Process. To expand the economic capacity of our countries and definitely bolster peace in the region, creating an atmosphere where the very difficult dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo can take place in more encouraging conditions.”
Asked whether the resignation of the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, hinders the Open Balkan initiative, Rama said, “I do not believe it. Because this is not an initiative related to persons, this is an initiative related to the future of this region. And of course to the benefit of the countries of this region. ”
Asked if a two-country initiative would make sense, Rama said, “Regardless of what can be said and thought, even in terms of pretending, what is worth discussing I believe is what we have. And what we have is the fact that local elections were held in North Macedonia. Prime Minister there had made a statement saying he steps down as prime minister and as party chairman as a result of the election. And now we have to see how that process will unfold.”
In reply to the question if the Montenegrin prime minister had decided to join the Open Balkan Summit, Rama said, “Not to the best of my knowledge. We will be together tonight, but he will not be part of the Summit, because he has come for a bilateral meeting and has expressed the desire to stay and discuss this issue which is an open discussion. And I’m sure everyone will come here because they have nowhere to go in the sense of inclination towards the future. The Open Balkan is not related to any personal or state interest of Serbia and Albania, instead it is a project about the future of this region in which we all belong.
“We did not choose each other, but fate has chosen us to live together. We have lived through horrible times. Now the time has come to build a new future despite all the difficulties and disagreements. The biggest disagreement between us and Serbia and between me and the President of Serbia is the disagreement over Kosovo. But I believe that disagreements in peace are resolved through communication, are resolved through dialogue, through open confrontation rather than turning them into an impediment to everything else.” /a.a/sm/
