In the joint press conference alongside the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, who is making his first visit to our country, Rama said that after waiting for at least a century, the French head of state comes on a bilateral visit to Albania.

“In the diplomatic protocol, the word ‘happy’ is often used. The truth is that every time I find myself in a situation like this, when I have to express my delight for the presence of a precious friend, I avoid the word happy that the Foreign Ministry suggests in my speeches and say ‘pleased’. While today I want to say with all my heart that I am very happy to stand alongside President of the Republic of France not in Paris, not in Brussels, not in another capital of Europe, but in Tirana,” said Rama.
Rama said that this visit is much more than a formal visit.

“It is a friendly visit and it is a commitment visit to further deepen a relationship between France and Albania that has seen an unexpected but also a long-awaited development in recent years owing to a re-commitment of France in the region and through the direct engagement of President Macron in search of a very concrete and much more productive relationship for the EU and for the Western Balkans”, said Rama.

This relationship, according to him, should exceed the traditional process of European integration and be able to give the countries of the Western Balkans every step of the way the opportunity to join Europe without falling into the trap of the tradition of the integration process.

“In my point of view and thankfully of President Macron, this should continue based on the merit of each country, but it should not be allowed to become a reason for anguish and uncertainty in relation to the European future of our countries.”

The Prime Minister appreciated the fact that President Macron, in his remarks last night in Tirana, said very clearly that EU enlargement should not stand in the way of the reunification of Europe.

“For this I am very hopeful that the President will lead a process of EU re-engagement with view to reunifying Europe to build two train rails where on the one hand each country will do its homework, while the EU will continue efforts to reform internally. The relations of the EU with each country will be very profound, with an impact on our economic and social life”, said Rama.
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