TIRANA, March 7/ATA/ The role of youth in the future of the European continent gathered today for the first time in Tirana the winners of the great International “Karlspreis – Charlemagne” Prize, one of the highest European honors for personalities with outstanding work toward European unity or cooperation between its states.
Speaking at the panel of this conference, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Albania does not have a “Plan B” versus the individual freedoms that are guaranteed only in the European Union.
“If you want to negotiate your freedom then give up and do not become part of the EU, but if you do not want to negotiate, you must become part of the EU”, said Rama.
The prime minister also emphasized that there is no Plan B versus the rule of law and being equal before the law.
“They can offer you vodka and caviar, but forget about the rule of law and equality before the law that is guaranteed only if you are part of all the rights that stem from the EU. Freedom can be guaranteed only by being part of the EU”, said Rama.
The prime minister mentioned the example of Afghanistan or Iraq where people had the opportunity to transform their country into a functional democracy and it did not work.
“It will never work if you do not have the EU on your horizon, because it is not only about what it is today, but also about how you can achieve it and how much support you have in the way you learn to do this,” said Rama.
PM Rama was part of the panel together with Martin Schulz, former President of the European Parliament and laureate of the “Karlspreis” prize, Veronika Tsepkalo, part of the Belarusian opposition, laureate of the “Karlspreis” prize and Dr. Jürgen Linden, Chairman of the Board of the “International Charlemagne Prize”.
Also present at this conference was René van der Linden, Honorary President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. /a.f//r.e/p.s./
