By giving himself the role of a global leader, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has managed to get the attention of Al Jazeera, even beyond the country's borders. The international media refers to the interview for the international channel during the Berlinale Global Dialogue Conference in Berlin, where Rama said that Russia will not attack Albania or any other European country and criticized the lack of a concrete peace plan from the European Union for Ukraine. It seems that Al Jazeera is unaware that we are talking about a prime minister of a country that does not meet the minimum of military defense and bases its security on NATO and its members who are today more worried than ever about an attack by Putin.
Al Jazeera writing:
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has downplayed Western concerns that Russia could be preparing for further conflicts in Europe and suggested that the European Union should have a concrete peace plan for Ukraine, as the United States tries to help end the war.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, during the Berlinale Global Dialogue Conference late last month, Rama said it would be "completely crazy" for any country to attack EU or NATO members.
“Russia will not attack Albania and will not attack any other European country,” he said. “NATO is ready for any kind of aggression. NATO has nothing to fear because it is the strongest army in the world by far.”
Many European countries close to Russia have reported suspected incidents involving Russian drones in recent months, including Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Romania. However, Albania has not reported any such violations, and Rama stressed that the country feels safe:
“I am Albanian. We are not afraid… There is no place for Russian hostility in Albania because there is no sympathy for Russia.”
Rama also criticizes the lack of a concrete peace plan from the EU, saying that the European Union should "consider having its own diplomacy in action to promote its vision for peace" and find ways to communicate with Russia to stop the war.
He also highlighted the progress of Albania and other Western Balkan countries on the path to the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Albania as “on the right path towards the European Union” and highlighted the acceleration of reforms that has taken place since 2022. Rama noted that the perception of the EU’s openness towards Balkan countries has improved since the start of the war in Ukraine.
