TIRANA, Nov 13 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, at the joint press conference, touched on cooperation between Albania and Italy, Albania’s European integration, and relations with Greece.
Prime Minister Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s support for Albania’s European Union membership, underscoring that “the agreements reached are a testament to the high-quality work undertaken by the Albanian authorities.”
She further noted that Italy is closely monitoring the process and actively seeking to facilitate political dialogue, while also acknowledging the contribution of Italian universities in the drafting of Albanian legal texts.
Concerning relations with Greece, Prime Minister Meloni underscored that “although some frictions exist, our Greek partners have consistently made a significant contribution to the advancement of Europe.”
On his part, Prime Minister Rama remarked, “Today we also addressed the support that Italy has provided to Albania over the years.”
He further noted, “We discussed the expansion of assistance from Italy, as well as the provision of European law texts. The work we are undertaking, thanks to Italy’s partnership — not only today but since the beginning of this journey — is of considerable significance.”
Prime Minister Rama further underscored that Albania-Greece relations are developing along a constructive path, stressing the importance of safeguarding minority rights and democratic principles.
Prime Minister Rama stated: “It is worth noting that Italy and Greece are neighboring countries, and although the sea lies between us, it facilitates our interactions. We remain in regular contact, even if traveling between the two countries can be challenging at times. I would also highlight that, after a difficult period for reasons widely understood, our relations are now moving in a positive direction, and we are cooperating effectively. The protection of fundamental values and minority rights is, for Albania, an integral part of the nation’s very foundation.”
Rama expressed confidence that by 2028, when Italy holds the EU Presidency, all outstanding issues with Greece will be resolved.
The Albanian Prime Minister also thanked Italy for its assistance following the 2019 earthquake, describing Italy not only as a strategic ally but as a “sister” to Albania.
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