Rama recalled unimaginable moments from the history of Albanian society when, according to him, “They were told that we won freedom, but not democracy”.

“Those who took it upon themselves to represent the opposition with a system on paper that was democratic faced violence, brutality and constant humiliation. They faced massive vote-rigging, with direct danger to life”, said Rama.

He highlighted how difficult it is to imagine today that the SP once survived opposition in the dark, without social media. On state television, the SP was allowed mere seconds of airtime, which was immediately drowned out by the channel’s hostile and critical remarks.

As the sole voice of the opposition, the newspaper Koha Jonë served as a mirror for a free society. Yet, it was ultimately reduced to ashes by those who preached freedom, their hypocrisy laid bare as they dragged journalists into the streets and locked them behind bars, said Rama.

Meanwhile, Rama stressed that the SP has never established such a clear public presence or a definitive posture toward its opponents. /j.p/p.s./

Rama emphasized that the EU works by a calendar. “I am not saying that we will end the negotiations in 2027, the EU says so. We have this on the table with a plan and a calendar. At the table with the EU, we have the calendar and the plan agreed with them, to end the negotiations within 2027. They have never said this before. The door has not been opened before”, said Rama.

Further on, Rama emphasized that now the EU unanimously does no longer rejects the idea of ​​enlargement, but also supports it.

“The door has never been opened for Albania before, today it is open”, said Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that Albania has met the criteria for years for opening negotiations, but the latter has not opened the door. Rama compared the EU to a “rich house”, which opens the door only when it is in its interest.

According to him, the EU has not given any other country a 2-year deadline to end the negotiation process.

According to Rama, it is neither an “illusion” nor a “magic trick”, but a historic opportunity to end the negotiations by 2027.

Speaking about EU integration, PM Rama stressed that only the Socialist Party can seat Albania at the Union table.

“I ask all Albanians for their votes to advance the negotiation process and to end them in 2027, which is a deadline set by the EU itself; with which for the first time our stars have aligned. To achieve this, we need an even stronger governance mandate”, said Rama.

Rama said that the opposition is the main obstacle in this process. “The opposition is the main obstacle in this process. We need a strong mandate to end the negotiations by 2027. Only we can lead the country to the EU. It is not a question of what they accept, the question is that no one else has the governance capacity that we have,” Rama said.

He stressed that the SP needs a stronger mandate than the current one, as a message about the will of the Albanian people for EU integration. /a.f/p.s./

“Interview to the “Great View” broadcast for the Greek national television MEGA. I hold in high esteem the journalist for her excellent ethics, for having the answer to all her questions and for giving me the opportunity to be heard by the Greek public with all my truths”, Rama wrote in the social media and attached the full interview with the Greek television.

In answer to question about his stance on the current US-Russia talks on the war in Ukraine without Ukraine and without the EU, Rama said that, “We live in revolutionary times. We have to live with it, react to this, not complain and not think that the status quo we are used to can help us”.

“When it comes to this, my question is not about the US and Russia, but about Europe. What is Europe doing under these circumstances where the US and Russia are discussing something that has to do with Europe. I have to tell you that these are the times when I feel sorry for my friends and colleagues who are at the helm of Europe because they have to make difficult choices and I do not envy them at all”, said Rama.

When asked if he agrees with those who say that there is a lack of governance in the EU, the Prime Minister underlined that, “Europe is the most wonderful project of humanity, but as it is, Europe resembles a patient with 27 doctors. It is not a panorama that gives you strength and security. Not only that there are 27 doctors, but also pathologists”.

Asked by the Greek journalist if there is an existential threat to Europe, Rama stated that, “This is a big word, but worse than an existential threat would be for this continent to become irrelevant”.

Regarding relations between Albania and Greece, the prime minister said: “I think we continue to have the problem of being very old neighbors, but at the same time, very new neighbors because we experienced a 50-year break and our paths were completely separate…. In some cases, we have been victims of this past, but today more than once we have had the proof that we are very similar. So much Balkans, Mediterranean, emotional, and hostages of our history. But, I have made it clear that history can be either a great trap or a great source for moving forward. The challenge is to see history with the eyes of the future. Relations are now good, but they can be much better. For a while, they were bad because of an issue that was very important for the Greek side, while for us it was one of many issues. However, we are okay now.”/p.s./

Rama said that, “We had not requested any meeting with the Greek authorities because we were going there to attend the gathering event with the Albanian compatriots. On the other hand, it was crystal clear that even if we requested a meeting with the authorities, it would be embarrassing under the circumstances of how the Greek politics was positioned”.

Asked in a television interview about the security measures for the gathering with his compatriots in Athens, Rama said that, “What I have thought during this period when I have been forced to follow the Greek media more than usual is that there are many rumors, conspiracy theories, mysteries, puzzles, but these are not relevant to this matter”.

Rama emphasized that, “To be fair, in regard to the protocols, special measures are taken for the visit of a head of government”.

“As a matter of fact, there was an atmosphere because of the way of finding the location and the way the whole process of comings and goings to get the place that we had actually booked; all ended up in the media; it actually created a situation where this gathering became the center of public attention and of course, this may have created the feeling for the authorities to take special measures”, said Rama. /p.s./

In a television interview, Rama said that after the transformations that have taken place in the country and the role that Albania has assumed in the international arena, Albania is listened to and consulted by the leaders of the great powers.

“I don’t want to talk about myself at all, and I want to make it crystal clear that this is not because of me. Of course, I do my duty and I have my part, but above all, it is all that has changed with Albania, since the reform in justice, the transformation of tourism, to the very high level of security, to our role in the international arena, at the Security Council, at the head of the OSCE, at the Human Rights Council at the UN and they listen and consult us. The great powers ask us; the leaders of the great powers consult us; they regularly ask us for our opinion on how we see things in the region”, said Rama.

The prime minister said that, “This is certainly a plus for us, but also for them because they have in the region a voice that they trust and listen to, a voice that is the voice of a state that has made its approach very clear”.

“Ours is a voice that has undertaken to be in the region the strength of the example, not the example of the strength; Ours is a voice that nurtures in all ways rapprochement, cooperation, peace and that definitely constitutes a point of balance”, said Rama. /a.f/p.s./

According to the Directorate, this television station is casting dirt at the institution.

“The news story broadcasted today is an old event, broadcasted for the first time by “Shijak” TV, more than a month ago. Regarding this event, we clarify that the investigative bodies have started investigations and are carrying out their work with the full support and cooperation of the General Directorate of the Customs”, said the statement of the Directorate.

According to the Directorate, “The recycling of this piece of news is in the course of open pressure and blackmail exerted against state institutions”.

“Having said that, it is worth noting that today’s recycling of an old news story follows the pressure and open blackmail that the media group “News 24”, “Balkanweb” and “Panorama” have been carrying out for months against all state institutions that have been caught Irfan Hysenbelliu in violation of the law. Specifically, this latest story goes on air on the eve of the trial with the customs authorities, where one of the companies owned by Irfan Hysenbelli, “Birra Tirana” is accused of tax evasion in the amount of 24 million lekë”, said the Customs Directorate. /r.e/p.s./

Rama said that this television lies while keeping itself cool to incite hatred against the government.

“It lies while keeping itself cool, being rough and tumble, a whole orchestra of ignorance and wickedness, channel after channel, beating about the bush only to poison the people and incite hatred against the government! And up to the point where there is no logic anymore…Like this”, wrote Rama in a reaction on social networks.

Likewise, Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted today to the statement of the Secretary for Public Relations in the Democratic Party Jola Hysa, who shared images of the floods in the area of the former-swamp in Durrës.

Referring to the article published on Balkan web about this statement, Rama said that these are lies that make the people blind and incite hatred.

The prime minister said that the mayor of Durrës and all the employees have been on duty, close to the people.

“Poor those who watch these channels, read and think that they are being informed, but in fact they are being poisoned with disgusting lies that incites hatred… Mayor of Durrës has been on duty, side by side with the people along with all her employees”, said Rama./j.p/p.s./

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said today that the series of this most watched TV show in the Netherlands continue to be shown in the Netherlands, presenting to the Dutch public, the language, culture, tradition and rich natural relief of Albania.

The most watched TV series in the Netherlands “Wie is de Mol”, developed in the most beautiful destinations in Albania, continues to keep stuck in front of the screen, every Saturday, the Dutch public and especially the children, who are very curiously known with the language, culture, tradition and rich natural relief of Albania “, said the ministry.

“Thank you, Wie is de Mol? for this promotion. We welcome you again to the land of eagles “, emphasized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Albania was selected as the destination for the shooting of 12 series of season 22, for 2022 of the most watched TV show in the Netherlands, (Who is the infiltrator?).

In the show with an audience of over 4 million viewers, 11 competitors, Dutch VIP characters came to Albania and shot the games with challenges and adventures, in the most beautiful and impressive places of Albania./p.s./

Margariti emphasized that the choice of Albania as a location for “Wie is de Mol?” show is a perfect promotion for our country.

“When we got to know that the producers of the famous “Wie is de Mol” show in the Netherlands had chosen Albania as the shooting location of the show, we definitely thought that this was the perfect promotion for our country, to another country that probably knew little or nothing about it. Record numbers of the audience, in only the first 4 episodes show that Albania has aroused an extraordinary curiosity in the public, which testifies of the desire get to know more, but it is also a smart and successful selection of producers. We will surely see the results during the tourist season”, said the minister. /a.a/p.s./

Being a guest to a TV studio, Basha said that the allegations about closure of the DP headquarters are nonsense.

“These are all nonsense and it is sad that the new year in Albania finds Albanians with such an event served while they face real problems, rising prices, poverty, economy, unemployment, immigration. These are the problems of those who follow us in these moments and not the attempt of a man to take the Democratic Party hostage, to turn it into a bunker, to instrumentalize the desperate Democrats from the April 25 election massacre and to use them as cannon fodder for his interests. All the other things are mere manipulations. Nothing has changed, you can come to my office tomorrow for a coffee and see that it is the same as it used to be”, said Basha.

According to him, “The Democratic Party actually has another interest, to be open to all Democrats, never to turn into a bunker for the interests of a man declared non-grata by the United States of America and accompanied by others who want to use the house of freedom for their personal interests, even worse for their personal concerns, in relation to non-grata or in relation to justice”.

Basha said that, “DP will not become a bunker even for Berisha’s worries while he has turned into a vital support for Edi Rama”.

According to Basha, “Everyone who is a functionary of the Democratic Party or every democrat who has a job in the Democratic Party, according to the rules of the institution can enter the Democratic Party headquarters.”

“On the other hand, yes, there are works underway in the building. There have been structural changes, secretariats have been added, National Council Commissions will soon start functioning. As they say, there are bricks and mortar around and for this reason measures have been taken to divert the entrance and exit to the building.

Speaking about Berisha’s referendum, Basha said that, “The images broadcast today show that only 10% of what Berisha declared have voted”. /m.m//a.a/p.s./