Press statement by Prime Minister Edi Rama on decisions of Council of Ministers at today’s regular meeting:
Hello everyone!
I am appearing in the media after today’s regular meeting of the government just for a simple reason, as we have decided to deliver on our pledge to the retirees and, under this decision, an year-end bonus of 5000 lek will be rolled out for a total 695,101 retired people starting tomorrow. Although we have been through a specifically difficult year, in addition to the retired people, the government has also decided to give out an year-end bonus payment of 6000 lek to all individuals currently benefiting disability pension, and an intense dialogue has been taking place between the representatives of the associations of the disabled people with the Ministry of Finance and this category of individuals will therefore receive a total amount of 110,000 lek as a needed, but also deserved compensation, also based on the outcome of the dialogue the government has held with them.
Likewise, the government has decided to provide support to more than 64,000 families under the economic assistance scheme, whose welfare benefit has been increased significantly, but they still remain people in need and deserve the government attention and care and that’s why the cabinet decided to provide them an year-end bonus, including all the categories of paraplegics and tetraplegics.
This whole package totals 4.3 billion lek or $40 million earmarked precisely for these social categories, which are of course the categories most in need in our society.
In the meantime, as of next January we have also decided to launch implementation of another measure based on the findings of a Public Consultation process, namely the decision to pay the social and insurance contributions for all unemployed mothers with three or more underage children.
Thank you very much!
– Mr. Rama, although December 6 sounds to be a historical day for the fact that the EU-Western Balkans Summit will take place in Tirana, on the other hand the opposition has hinted it plans to stage a protest or more precisely the opposition has warned it will proceed according to their plans although the State Police have declined the opposition’s request for the rally or despite the important security measures that will definitely be in place. Do you have any comments on that? How would you describe it on this important Summit day? I would also like to ask you about the decision to declare Tuesday a holiday. Was it necessary to declare it a day off in Tirana?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: No decision on a holiday has been taken. It is fake news and work will continue as normally and as far as the security measures are concerned they cannot be negotiated with anyone. The measures are based on the standards and rules determined by the European Commission and the European Council that stipulate a set of standard measures anywhere such activities are held. Our law and order forces are constantly working with the forces and the Summit organizers in the European Council indeed. So it’s not a matter of opinions, thoughts and discussions. These are very strict security measures, which become much tougher given the fact that all EU leaders will be here, like never before, and definitely extreme security measures are in place everywhere they travel and every time they travel.
– Few days ago, the European Parliament passed a resolution and I quote: “we express strong reservations about any regional economic cooperation initiative that does not encompass all six Western Balkan countries and is not based on EU rules, such as the Open Balkan initiative.” My question is: “While anti-Open Balkan initiatives have taken place in Montenegro most recently, will the government of Albania insist on this initiative, about which the European Parliament has strong reservations?”
Prime Minister Edi Rama: First of all, it is not a European Parliament resolution. Second, the Open Ballkan initiative has received the approval of around 60% of Albanian citizens that have responded as part of the National Consultation process. Third, Open Balkans is an initiative 100% in line with the spirit and letter of the EU. It’s a product of the Berlin Process. Suffice it to take into account the fact that exactly the same documents we had previously signed in the framework of the Open Balkans initiative were already signed in the recently renewed Berlin Process. Therefore, there is no reason for us to alter our opinion on the Open Balkan initiative. It is probably those who object to the Open Balkan who should change their opinion. However, it is their right to develop an opinion that differs from ours.
– Mr. Prime Minister, which is your truth regarding the recent accusations against the Chairman of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, as allegedly being the person contacting notorious crime bosses in Elbasan, referring also the fact that an Elbasan court ruling confirms that he has been under surveillance because of these criminal elements?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: How could there possibly be any truth other than the facts-based truth? I believe in facts only and I don’t care about rumours and speculations and, moreover I am very wary of half-truths as they turn out to be the biggest lies.
If there is evidence, the burden of proof lies with the claimant. This has been the rule since the Roman Empire era. But the civilisation trend has been totally altered here. However, this can’t force me to pursue this altered trend, because I am convinced there are many individuals committed to lying in today’s Albania. I am humbly serving the truth only and, understandably, there could be no absolute truth, but I serve that truth I believe it is as such based on facts only. This is all! There are many individuals committed to speculating and launching smear campaigns against certain personalities and staining the image of this country virtually, portraying it as a swamp with everyone having been rolling in this quagmire. I don’t belong to this category of people.
– Mr. Prime Minister, I would return to the December 6 summit. You said that it is about security measures decided by Brussels, but on the other side…
Prime Minister Edi Rama: No, these are security measures based on the criteria and standards any country taking over to host a Summit of this size has to guarantee and, of course, these measures are based on their requests, because they will come here and organize the Summit here, because the Summit is organized by the European Council and not by Albania. Albania is simply the host of this Summit.
-But, on the other hand, the opposition is determined to stage its rally in front of the Prime Minister’s office. If none of the sides agrees to backtrack, what will happen on December 6?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: This is not about sides backtracking or refusing to backtrack. This is about a very important event, the most important one in the history of the international relations of the Republic of Albania or in history of the international relations of Albania before becoming a Republic. Never before has Albania hosted all leaders of the continent in a clear expression of respect for Albania and in support of that already crystallized line that sees Albania as a key factor in the region.
-Mr. Prime Minister, yesterday the Socialist Party lawmaker Erion Braçe accused the Socialist parliamentary group of rejecting an amendment he has proposed to protect farmers in the face of merchants. In the meantime, he has repeatedly warned that it is time for him to look for a new job. Have you contacted him and have you received any request from Mr. Braçe to relinquish his parliamentary mandate?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Erion Braçe is an institution within the Socialist Party and it is in his right to state whatever he wants. As to everything else, I have advised your colleagues too, be sure you eat at least a spoon of honey before embarking on commenting on Socialist lawmaker Erion Braçe.
Thank you!
