Rama: Kosovo is a problem; for us it is a state, but for Serbia or other countries it is not

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized that Serbia’s non-recognition of Kosovo is a fundamental regional issue, according to Koha.

At the Paris Peace Forum, Rama stated that the Balkans must choose between division and cooperation.

“Kosovo is a problem — for us it is a state, but for Serbia or other countries it is not. This is a great problem. Either we continue standing aside, stoking tensions and negative energy and harming ourselves and our economy — we are small markets — or we stand together. The other alternative would be for us not to agree and not to cooperate,” Rama said.

He added that Europe is facing the same challenges that once characterised the Balkan region.

“Europe has become too Balkanised. I think that France has become too Balkanised — they cannot even approve a budget. Look at Britain: it’s even worse. Now we’re fine, so I tell them: make peace, don’t threaten, communicate, because we come from hell and we are messengers,” he stressed.

Rama stated that Albania will continue to work for regional stability, whether or not others listen.

“If the world becomes better, we will say we have done our job. We will earn our place in heaven as Albanians,” he said with a touch of humour.

The Albanian prime minister also praised the relations with Italy and the role of the European Union.

“The Italians are Albanians dressed in Versace. You have a brilliant and incredible woman as prime minister. She is not tall, but believe me, when she speaks she is taller than me. The EU is the greatest political project humanity has ever experienced,” Rama declared.

He emphasised that Albania’s membership in the EU is a historic blessing.

“After years of bloody dictatorship and poverty, if the EU had not been there, we would have had the same fate as Afghanistan or others. The EU is something that every European, including the French, should enjoy as a gift from the founders — and it must under no circumstances be jeopardised,” he concluded.

Rama also warned that Europe is failing to wake up in the face of conflicts that have broken out, such as the war in Ukraine, and that the old continent lacks a communication channel.

He added that Europe should have a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, which has so far not been enacted despite U.S. efforts to end the war.