TIRANA, January 26 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama stated today that Albania supports all efforts, including President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, and will contribute to the international force tasked with stabilizing Gaza.
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, PM Rama highlighted that Albania and Israel share excellent relations grounded in a deep, enduring friendship between our peoples.
“Albania’s unique historical legacy in protecting Jews during the Holocaust makes this bond deeply special. This is a testament to the moral courage of our grandparents, a testimony that we must never forget and we are committed to preserve and pass down to coming generations”, said Rama.
The prime minister stressed that the government maintains a firm, clear and unwavering stance against anti-Semitism, both domestically and internationally.
“Although the Albanian population, with a Muslim majority, joined in solidarity around the world with the suffering of the ordinary Palestinian people, during the war in Gaza, Albanians declined to engage in rallies inciting hatred against Israel, nor did they take their frustrations out on the increasing number of Jewish visitors to our country. This is in stark contrast to what has unfortunately happened in many other parts of Europe, where anti-Semitism has resurfaced as a menacing, tangible threat,” Rama said.
Rama assured that our country unequivocally condemns anti-Semitism, just as it stands against Islamophobia.
“We clearly refuse to allow hatred or discrimination to guide our thinking, actions or relations with other peoples and countries,” he added.
Rama also stressed that, “Albania is honored to be part of the Peace Board, established by President Trump, and I see this invitation not only as a recognition, but also as a moral responsibility.” /j.p/p.s./
Full remarks by PM Rama
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you so much, Prime Minister.
I want to reiterate that Albania and Israel share excellent relations rooted in a profound friendship between the Albanian Jewish people forged across centuries of history. When time and again Jews fleeing persecution in the West came and settled on our shores, Albania’s unique historical legacy of safeguarding Jews during the Holocaust makes this bond deeply special. And to me and to us is a testament by the moral courage of our grandparents, a testament that we should never forget and we should do everything to pass from generation to generation.
And as a government, we are fully committed to cherishing this inheritance from history and maintain a firm, clear, consistent stance against anti-Semitism, both at home and internationally.
Although Albania’s Muslim-majority population joined the ranks of solidarity worldwide with the suffering of ordinary Palestinian people during the Gaza War, Albanians did not rally in gatherings of hatred against Israel, nor did they project anger over the horrifying pain of the Palestinian people onto the growing number of Jews visiting our country. This stands in stark contrast to what has unfortunately occurred in many other parts of Europe, where anti-Semitism has once again become a deeply disturbing presence.
Our nation stands firmly against anti-Semitism, just as it stands against Islamophobia. We unequivocally refuse to allow hatred or discrimination to guide our thinking or actions and our relations with other people and nations.
Visiting the Nova site yesterday upon my arrival was profoundly unsettling. Yet I felt a sense of moral relief toward the souls of that painful place in knowing that we never failed them. We stood with the hostages and their families and against the Hamas neo-Nazi butchers, whose actions have brought unbearable suffering not only to Israelis, but for far too long also to our Palestinian brothers and sisters, dehumanized by Hamas to the point of being reduced to instruments of war, turned into defensive infrastructure of human flesh, unseen, unheard in the history of barbarism, mere meat for the fire of terror. So Albania is honored to join the Board of Peace founded by President Trump, and I view this invitation as both recognition and moral responsibility.
We will continue to support all efforts, including President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, and we will do our part within the International Stabilization Force for Gaza. And with Israel, we will continue to deepen cooperation in defense, security, cyber security, and counter-terrorism.
Mr. Prime Minister, allow me to express once again our sincere gratitude to Israel for its critical support during the massive Iranian cyber attack against Albania.
Like Israel, Albania maintains no diplomatic relations with Iran, a great country with an extraordinary civilization that has been transformed into an island of darkness and blind hatred towards any light.
And while we pray for the countless souls burned in recent days in the fires of hominism, we hold the hope and the conviction that the days of terror and assassins are drawing to an end.
On the other hand, we welcome expanded trade and investment, building on Israel’s technological expertise, having day after day agreements to jointly build up a new defense military production, and thanks to the partnership with Israel, recreating the conditions for the ‘Made in Albania’ in the defense systems to also go abroad.
So, in the spirit of growing cooperation, we will announce tomorrow, as you mentioned, the opening of the Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem, aimed at strengthening business ties and promoting Albania and its opportunities as a strongly emerging nation.
Last but not least, I want to conclude with the most impressive and most encouraging note of this relation, tourism and people-to-people exchange that finally are growing as they should, supported by direct flights between Israel and Albania.
I want to warmly invite all Jewish people to visit Albania, a remarkable land, not just in nature, but in soul, described by a Jewish observer before the Second World War as a place where Jews could live openly, safely and in full dignity.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
