Prime Minister Rama has personally contacted the Greek journalist via the “Whats App,” where he asks him that for the sake of transparency and media independence, he should have also cited the voice of the government in the article published by him.

First overwhelmed with doubt, then let stunned, the journalist Papadopoulos gladly accepts the interview that will be published on Sunday.

‘The Greek and Me” is the caption of the video featuring the conversation between the two published by Prime Minister Rama on social media.

“I wake up in the morning and find among several messages the link to an article in “Ekathimerini” by Pavlos Papadopoulos. I don’t know him, so I asked for his contact number and I write to him; – Good morning, sir, my name is Edi Rama. I was given your number from a Greek friend, after reading that you took care of writing about me in the prestigious Ekathimerini. I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to write to you directly. Just like I hope it is not a matter of pride for you to confront with the facts you have exposed to bash me in public without caring at all to at least ask for my side of the story and then judge for yourself the real facts and the made up ones from each side. I am happy to talk to you if you are ready if you give me the right to reply and honor the fundamental principle of a free, independent and unbiased press. Feel free to text me if you accept this “challenge”, while I assure you of my full understanding if you avoid to face the counter arguments,” Rama wrote to the journalist Papadopoulos.

Journalist Papadopoulos responds immediately. “Good morning Mr. Prime Minister. It’s a surprise, but even more it is an honor to receive a message from you and I would happily accept to talk with you. I could add that I personally appreciate the great contribution to Greece of people from Albania in the last 30 years as well as the great progress of your country,” he writes.

“I support friendship and cooperation. But Beleri’s treatment is unfair and unjust. He was first set up by the authorities. The accusation of bribing 14 citizens is unfounded, even laughable. Where is the hard evidence? Where are the photographs and intercepted communications related to the so-called bribery and then after he was tied in manufactured accusations, he got conveniently trapped in norms, clauses, technicalities and intricacies of your country’s new judicial system, so mow you can rightly claim that you cannot interfere. Imprisoned and waiting for trial in perpetuity, he could be pushed away from mayoralty.

Yes, I am more than happy to talk to you about the Beleri affair. However, it is highly unusual for a prime minister to contact directly a journalist previously unknown to him on his mobile phone from his own mobile phone. Therefore, please permit my doubts whether you really are Edi Rama. In case you really are, then of course I accept the challenge. And I am sure that ‘Ekathimerini’ will be glad to organize and publish an interview with you, where all your arguments will be freely and fully presented to the Greek public. Therefore, the best thing to validate and guarantee the process would be to establish a formal contact with someone from the prime minister’s office to arrange the details of the interview. Or your Greek friend who gave you my number, can call me directly,” Papadopoulos writes.

Prime Minister Rama responds through a video message to the journalist Papadopoulos.

I fully understand you and after what happened to some people, including George Bush, who was trapped by some Russians playing Ukrainians, asking him for solidarity, you are right. But I think my face is better than the call of my friends from Greece or whoever could call you. And yes, I am an unusual person in office. I just want to get things done directly and I don’t like bureaucracy, I don’t like channels. I just want to face people, whoever they are, and do my best. So if that’s enough for you and if you don’t think I’m an Albanian nationalist comedian playing the role of the Prime Minister of Albania, tell me how we’re going to proceed. I wish you all the best. And don’t forget. “Mia fatsa mia razza!”, Rama says.

The journalist, from Greece who was caught by surprise, answers Prime Minister Rama positively about the interview.

“Mr. Prime Minister, you are a revelation to me. This message is more than enough to validate the process. Now we can certainly arrange an interview and it is an honor for us that your reach out to discuss this matter in full.”

“To begin with, it feels good to be a revelation. Would you like to send the questions, facetime, or whatever you want,” Prime Minister Rama continues, as the journalist agrees to facetime.

“To be honest, with a leader like you, I am tempted to ask for a facetime meeting. I would like to establish direct communication with you. And I would also ask you for a day so I am fully prepared. But let me first discuss the issue with my editor and I will get back to you. I have to inform my editor first,” the journalist says.

“Happy to do Facetime with one presumption. You send me the transcript before the publication, so that I confirm my words of course, not yours. And secondly, while you rightly ask your editor, what about telling this funny introduction to your readers and announce the interview to come,” Rama says.

“I agree! I will send the transcript of interview to approve your words and of course after you approve the transcript , of course we can then inform the public about this pleasant way of reaching out to inform the Greek public,” the journalist Papadopulos concludes.

Prime Minister Rama announced that the interview on the Beleri case in the media “Ekathimerini” will be published on Sunday.
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