TIRANA, July 13 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Open Balkan regional initiative was dismissed as “a terrible idea” largely because it was championed by him and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
In an interview with Euronews Serbia, excerpts of which were released on Monday, Rama argued that perceptions of the initiative were shaped more by its political sponsors than by its substance.
“It was considered a terrible idea for one reason only: because Vucic and I were behind it. If you removed our names and replaced them with, say, five others, it would have been regarded as a brilliant idea. That’s how everything works in the Balkans,” Rama said.
Commenting on his cooperation with Vucic, Rama described the Serbian president as “always a difficult partner.”
Rama also praised Montenegro’s transformation.
“Montenegro has been remarkable in the way it has transformed itself, from a ship associated with smuggling into a yellow submarine that everyone likes. I take my hat off to them; I respect that. They have made extraordinary progress, but that alone is not enough,” he said.
The full interview is scheduled to be broadcast on Tuesday.
Rama also said Europe now needs the Western Balkans as much as the Western Balkans needs Europe.
/Euronews Albania/
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