Former Interior Minister Sandër Lleshaj has reacted via social media regarding Tirana's latest official stance towards Tehran, calling the dual position our country finds itself in "absurd". Although he welcomes Iran's classification as a state sponsor of terrorism, Lleshaj emphasizes that Albania's presence in the same organization as this country remains meaningless.
"Today's decision by Albania, which considers Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, is completely understandable. Meanwhile, Albania's participation, as the only European country, in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation together with Iran now becomes even more absurd," the former minister wrote.
During yesterday's session, the Albanian Parliament voted on a resolution officially considering Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. This step follows the severance of diplomatic relations that Albania took two years ago, taking the clash to a new legal and political level.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, with 57 member states. It aims to be the "collective voice of the Muslim world" and to protect their interests in the economic, political and social spheres.
As Lleshaj notes, Albania is the only European country in this organization. The fact that Albania sits at the same table with Iran within this organization, while labeling it a terrorist state, constitutes a strong contradiction in our foreign diplomacy.
