SPEECH OF WELCOME TO THE SUMMIT

Honorable colleagues,
 
One of the most important laws in the Albanian Kanun – our first written Code –  says « The house of the Albanian belongs to God and to the Guest». God was expelled from Albania by a communist regime, which turned this country into the North Korea of Europe and the first and only country in the world that sanctioned atheism in the constitution. The commitment to hospitality, however, remained sacred even during those difficult times, despite the fact that we were so isolated that no foreign friend ever knocked on our door. It has been a long and arduous journey to finally be able to welcome back to our house, both God and the friends guests from abroad. But this one, today is rather special because your are the friends that Albanians also see as Gods: the Gods of the EU. 

For the first time in history, the EU-WB summit takes place outside the borders of the European Union.

This is a strong and clear signal, not only for the essential geopolitical importance of this region, for Europe’s stability and security, but also for the high level of awareness of the fact that the EU needs the Western Balkans as much as the Western Balkans needs the EU. And since we are talking about friends, God and faith, there could be no better choice than Albania, to gather at this special moment in the history of Europe. For Albanians, Europe can be a kind of religion.

According to the oracle of Brussels, the barometer of the EU, this country you chose to be today is the most pro-European country on our continent.

 This is also why it can be rather upsetting for us to see when the EU lacks faith in itself. Trust us, you should believe in yourselves as much as we believe in you. 

This is why it becomes so depressing for us, when we see that the EU lacks confidence in itself. Please believe us when we tell you that you have to trust yourself, as much as we trust you. Here in this region we never felt the European Union as close, as united around its inspiring flag, as in the last couple of years and especially since the invasion of Ukraine. Never before has any President of the European Council nor of the European Commission, shown genuine interest in our region, steadfast patience and admirable willingness to fight for us, as Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen. Shumë faleminderit – “Many thanks” [in Albanian] which means thank you very much for both! A big thanks also to our Commissioner – I can’t call him any other way – Oliver Varheley! He has given convincing evidence that he is the best possible interpreter, between the rock and roll band of the Western Balkans and the symphony orchestra of the European Commission. Even when we were deeply disappointed by the EU, even when we felt alone right here, in the middle of Europe, we have not stopped believing.

We have suffered, we have been angry and worried, but we have not lost our faith. Never. Not because we Albanians are naive.

But because we come from a real hell – not like the French one, which is a paradise they call hell. Because we know the cost of isolation.  We know what happens when countries lose faith in joint projects, when they see cooperation between nations as a threat and not as an opportunity, when fear of others defeats the reason for joining with others. Albania’s past is an early warning for Europe’s common future.

It took a war in Europe’s backyard to see an impressive European Union comeback. I hope that this EU is not only here to stay, but that it will learn from its past failures to become stronger, braver and more purposeful.

We should not only never forget, but we should find a common right way to explain to all our people that Vladimir Putin war does not aim just the invasion of Ukraine, but the knocking down of all the Western community.  We must not only never forget it, but we must jointly find the most efficient way to explain to all our fellow citizens that Vladimir Putin’s war is not aimed solely at conquering Ukraine, but the kneeling of our entire Western community. While we witness every day the horrific consequences of Russian aggression in Ukraine and the devastating effects on our economies, it is by no means early to project a comprehensive renaissance plan of our continent.

This is not only the time to speed up the EU enlargement process and the construction of the new European Political Community, but also to think about a Renaissance Plan for Europe. This is the time to remember what the founding fathers of the United Europe taught us, after surviving the catastrophe of the Second World War: the condition for building a long-lasting and prosperous peace is to prepare for it while in war. Peace does not happen by order, nor does it last, unless suitable opportunities and institutions are created for its preservation. History has many examples of this.

Let me bring here the most well-known: during the First World War, no attempt was made to prepare a new and balanced Europe. Consequently, everything ended up being only a matter of punishment and revenge, against Germany and her allies; even the most lucid negotiators of the Treaty of Versailles could not prevent that treaty and other efforts in the 1920s from causing what later erupted as World War II.

Perhaps, because of the bitter lesson of not preventing another war, and as a result of the lack of preparation in the period of the previous one, right in the middle of the Second War, confused talks began between the Allies about what needed to be done for a lasting peace.

A « lend and lease program » by which the US provided weapons to the UK was signed in March 1941 and immediately after, other negotiations began about the architecture of the world after the war, setting up the framework for post-war international economic cooperation and reconstruction. The negotiations are said to have been very tough and when UK negotiators led by John Maynard Keynes were too demanding, the US teams slowed down the boats delivering weapons to the UK. 

In July 1944 – one year before the end of World War II – delegates from 44 countries met for the «United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference» and you all know the rest of the story. Of course, the international institutions and mechanisms that emerged out of that process did not compensate the grief and sorrow for the 50 million lives lost during this war, but they helped create a sustainable environment for more than 50 years, for many countries (not mine, nor those under Soviet rule).

Isn’t it high time for the European Union to take the lead in preparing together with all its allies not only a plan for the reconstruction of Ukraine, but a tangible European Renewal Program for our continent that would make the citizens of Europe have big dreams and hope again instead of seeking refuge in the past to protect themselves from future nightmares?

Of course, such a plan should be visible to the people of all nations – including Russia’s. They should know that their nation would also have the right to join this path of European renewal, if the Russian state were to recognize the need for a lasting peace with its neighbors, each in their internationally recognized borders.

Too many people believe that the only necessary reconstruction after this war has to be in Ukraine. But, our continent has more than one Ukraine; it always has had, and the only thing that can prevent other catastrophes from happening is to renew the faith of the people in Europe and in its power to project itself in the future. It goes without saying that the Western Balkans – once called the powder keg of Europe – should be among the top priorities. And we should not forget that our biggest common enemy is still in being created under our eyes and it’s not called Vladimir Putin, but Climate Change.

So while all our eyes are on Ukraine, it is important to emphasize that a sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine presupposes the creation of a sustainable environment for a larger region of still many undesired dependencies. In a way Ukraine is today just the biggest visible wound in a whole body deeply affected by a dangerous disease. It is in the interest of the world and in particular of the European Union to link all the countries of the region with the safe European Union networks and to do it as soon as possible.

Certainly, several elements of such a plan are already in place. Some existing institutions could play a crucial role in completing it.  Some are already preparing parts of it, but what about a working group, one composed of experts of all the specialized institutions, under the chair of clever people that produces a concrete report (which programs, projects, thinks about financing, agenda?) as soon as the next spring and addresses it to the EU and to the next summit of the new European Political Community in Moldova?

Our meeting in Prague to reflect on the proposal of a new European Political Community was refreshing and encouraging. It is time to take more concrete steps in this direction, and maybe to consider the possibility of linking these two bodies, the European Union and the New European Community to this master plan of Europe’s renewal, where a comprehensive involvement of the private sector is also needed. Let me stop here and not take the risk of sounding like crying for the code in front of an automated teller machine (ATM).

I did my best to not abuse my very special place of host today, and tried to avoid doing what we excel in doing in this part of the world: blaming and complaining, especially if we have a chance to complain to the Great Powers. I can assure you that if it had been Albania going to meet the Great Powers rather than the Great Powers coming to meet in Albania, my tone would have been very different. But as I said, at the beginning, according to our ancient code, the house of Albanians belongs to the guests and to god. The Code makes it very clear that within the borders of our territory the Guest is to be treated as a God, and should be protected with our own life if necessary. So my dear friends be our guests today and be sure that we would give our lives for you if necessary; though of course I hope it will be not necessary.

Choosing Albania for this first ever EU-WB Summit out of the EU, you have honored our home with the most important presence of guests in its history. God has never before sent at our door such a large number of world historical individuals at once, challenging us with the task of having ready more than 27 lives to protect yours. But, we are deeply grateful for both the challenge and the faith you have put in us.

I can’t thank you all enough for making us so happy today, but you, our dear friends from the EU, should also be happy, because as the first great European who I spoke about neighborly relations in my life, while taking my very first steps out of home, my beloved grandmother used to say, happy neighbor happy house!

Thank you!