In a joint press conference alongside the Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Rama emphasized that, “this process of Albania’s inclusion in the community of democratic countries, its membership in NATO and the EU, as well as the fact that Albania after 100 years under the control of an empire and imposed regimes, has chosen to align with this community, and for this reason, it has strategic alliances with the EU and the USA – just as it has all the good things, it also does the part that is challenging.”

Rama said that, “the relationships in this community are not like choosing menus whenever you need support, whenever you need more opportunities to invest in a path where Albanians aspire to follow and on the other hand, since you take it all when it comes to challenges and those moments that are not sunshine and rainbows but are moments of insomnia to say no. We could say no, as everyone else did, when those in Kabul were left to their own devices. But being a NATO member country and aware that we cannot contribute to determine the fate of wars, where NATO enters, it was up to us and our tradition, and let’s not forget that we are the only country in Europe that has had more many more Jews after the war than before the Second World War, precisely because we were born in a country that has written in its DNA that the home of the Albanian belongs to God and his friend. That’s why we made that gesture, not calculated for any interest, not even thinking about what we will benefit from an economic point of view, because practically we are paying for the accommodation of some 100 Afghans in the hotel at our expense, and I have heard and read all kinds of things in the Italian media that I could not even imagine what is hidden behind this agreement, at a time when we have not asked for a single euro. Because the moment we would ask for a euro, we would not be us, and Albania would not be what it should be, a friend and an ally that is there, when a friend and an ally like Italy says can you give us a hand.”

According to him, what the local economy will benefit from this agreement are the economic resources of the area. “We have not made this calculation and it is terrible to see how this agreement has been commented on and up to the awarding of tenders, while everything is managed by the Italian side,” said Rama.

“We have this opportunity and only Italy can use this opportunity. For 1000 and one historical reasons of today and tomorrow. There are no calculations here. This is an agreement our of the goodness of our heart and responsibility in relation to a strategic friendship and a community of Europe”, said Prime Minister Rama.
/sm/