Press releases of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the European Union Federica Mogherini, following their meeting:

Prime Minister Edi Rama:

It is a pleasure to have here today as High Representative of the European Union, as well as a proven friend of Albania and Albanians.

Also, a very special thanks, with gratitude, for your speech in the Albanian Parliament on the progress of the country, not only towards the opening of negotiations with the European Union, but also about our progress on the path of reform, and in terms of the role Albania in the region.

Undoubtedly, this visit coincides with the crucial moment when the public opinion, obviously, as well as all the representatives of the public opinion in the Parliament and all the friends and partners of our country are involved in the effort to crown the process of justice reform, that goes without saying that it is an inevitable key to open the door of negotiations with the European Union.

The high-level dialogue with the European Commission, which is about to take place again by the end of March in Tirana, will mark another important point in time when we draw a balance sheet on a path that for us as is neither reversible nor a point where we should stagnate.

We want to have the justice reform not only as an imperative for the present and not simply because it is the key  to further progress in our journey towards full integration into the European Union, but also because it is a paramount obligation to our children, to the next generation.

We are today under the conditions where we have a report from the Venice Commission, and with regard to the report itself, I hope and wish that all parties follow the recommendations contained therein quite correctly, and start quite swiftly to enact the first part of the reform that relates to the constitutional amendments. I will not dwell longer into this part, because things have already been said and resaid, and now is time for us to act upon them.

The very importance of this reform is known worldwide, and above all Albanians are quite aware of such importance and they support it with their heart and soul. What we have to do is to stand up to the aspirations and to their long-time wish to have this reform voted in the Assembly as soon as possible, its first part on constitutional amendments and to continue with all the rest.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Commission, as well as to all your people who have been directly engaged with Albania, I would like to express gratitude to the delegation here, and to Ms the Ambassador, since really – and you know I am not a person who is known for having a flattering attitude or words towards foreigners –but without the Commission, without your people, without your presence here, without the Ambassador, we wouldn’t have reached to this stage, and we would neither be so close as we are to the coronation of this reform.

I would like to assure you that we will keep doing everything that we have to do not only with regards to the five priorities, but also with respect to all the other reforms that even though do not fall under the five priorities, shape the physiognomy of European Albania, the Albania that we want to have, a country that has a state built, the Albania that has the rule of law, that develops a free and fair competition, and has functioning institutions where everyone is equal before the law.

Challenges are obviously not only internal ones, are linked to the progress of events and the process of regional cooperation. They also are intrinsically linked to the way how jointly with the others we will be able to handle the serious refugee crisis.

Albania is a small country, but it has never avoidedits responsibility vis-à-vis the joint challenges with our partnersin NATO and the EU. We stand loyal to the values and principles of the Union that those who left us the legacy of the European project dreamt of, and there is no doubt whatsoever that we are ready to take over our share of responsibility in this challenge.

But on the other hand we are aware that we lack the capacity, and thank God we also lack the delusion that we are going to be the soul saviours of the world and Europe. We are not going to open the borders or erect walls. We are ready and open to cooperate and take over our share of responsibility, within a common European blueprint.

Unilateral decisions of other countries are unrelated to what we should do together, and on the other hand they cannot be in any form and manner imposed on us.

This is aEuropean challenge. This is neither the Greek challenge nor Italy’s challenge, and it cannot be the challenges of the Balkans and even less of Albania. This is the challenge of the European Union.

And within this European Union, we find ourselves, and we are currently and E without the U. We are not part of the Union but we are Europeans. Even though I must say that we have behaved in this region as first-hand European citizens, while other countries who already have the Uhave behaved as a second-hand category compared with the values and principles of the EU.

Thank you so much once again! We are quite open to accept all the expression of affection that you handed over today, and are ready to give that back as an affection for what you are and what you represent, for Federica Mogherini and the European Union in the way we want it and that you fortunately incarnate in the most loyal way.

We really hope that this is the European Union that will triumph, and that we become part of himas soon as possible, because my very modest impression is that we deserve it; we deserve to have negotiations opened, we deserve to become members as soon as possible, and by becoming members we are confident that we serve as a strong support for Europe of hopes and dreams vis-à-vis the Europe of fear and walls.

 

HRVP Federica Mogherini:

Thank you so much!

First of all because, as you said, in these difficult times for Europe, regardless if it is with the EU, without the EU, inside the [European] Union, outside the [European] Union, in Europe these are not easy times for anyone, but being here today gives me a sense, first of all, of friendship, a true one; second, of gratitude for what you are doing and for we are doing together; and, third, it gives me a sense of hope which is not a word that we are not used to use much in these difficult times.

I believe that what is happening here, beyond the political tensions, beyond the party dynamics – if we take one step back and look at it from a little bit of distance – is huge and good and historic somehow, and this gives me happiness. This is not a word we use much in politics, but I have a sense of gratitude for this because seen from outside of Albania with a sense of friendship and closeness to the country, I see how big it is what you are doing, how visionary it is and how much the country is achieving – not necessarily getting the full scope of it yet, but it is immense. I thank you for that.

And I think it is not by chance that only a few days ago you received this very similar message from John Kerry, and that the message the European Union and the US are passing to Albania and to Albanian citizens is very similar: you are doing for your country something big and good and sometimes it needs a deep breath, a lot of vision, a lot of determination, a lot of courage, a lot of patience and determination to move forward, but this is what leadership is.

So, it is my sense of gratitude for what you as Albanians, as institutions, as a person, are building for your country and for Europe, because a success story for Albania is a success story for Europe and for the European Union. But it is me for a real honour to be here in these crucial hours and in these crucial days. I said what I had to say in the Parliament, and this for me was an honour to be able to address the Parliament on many different things, but also on the key element of the need to have a deep, comprehensive, historic reform of the judiciary which is I believe what counts most. The Albanians believe it is an absolute need for the country.

I think it is quite unprecedented inside Albania and inside any of our countries, the amount of public support we see for such a deep reform. It does not happen often that a political leadership can count on such a huge, massive public opinion orientation when entering into this reform and that is why my main message today is and has been: do it not because it is Brussels asking, but it is because it is your people who is asking for it.

The risk of disconnect between the institutions, the public arena and our people everywhere in Europe is so big and so dangerous for the credibility of the institutions, and the steps you have taken in the last years are so big and good that you cannot simply risk to spoil this excellent path you have built with such a determination and such good results.  So this comes also a little bit emotionally because of the friendship that I personally feel towards this country and its people and, that is not only a personal feeling which is also important, it is also something that from an institutional point of view the European Union feels that success of Albania is going to be success of Europe.

The “E” without or with the “U” hoping, actually being sure from my side, that at certain moment we will have the “E” and the “U” completely coinciding.  I can tell you this is my personal engagement; this is the European Union institutional engagement with Albania to have this work and done. I believe for real that we must and we can open negotiations and that we must and we can have the role of Albania fully inside the Union. So that it is not only part of Europe, but of the European Union.

Let me spend a couple of words on something on which in Parliament I did not underline enough, because my focus was mainly on the role of the Parliament in these days and the responsibility of the Parliament in these days.

The role that your country is playing in the region and on the international level is excellent. This is really something that we know we can count on. And this is precious in these difficult times. I would like to personally thank Ditmir for a very precious coordination and cooperation we have on all what we call with the very strange term “the alignment” which means basically that we agree on everything – it is incredible, it is 100% which means that we are more than partners, we work together, hand-in-hand. As a NATO country, as a friend, as a partner, this is the proof that we are together already in what we do in the region and in the world.

The agreement we just signed on security of information with Ditmir is a symbol I believe of mutual trust we put in each other. And it’s a symbol of the fact that our common work grows, grows every single day, new sectors, new steps, new fields of cooperation.  There is a lot you can be proud of. This is a possible turning point for good and for bad. I believe it is going to be a turning point for good. I believe there are a lot of good energies here. Again, the steps the country has taken, very much in the last years, but if you look back 25 years, it is a complete, unimaginable how far the country has gone.

And people of my generation see it in such an impressive way. I think this is because Albania has managed to act, and its leadership, and you personally Edi, rationally, in a balanced way, in an honest and open way as always, and with consistency and determination. I wish you to manage to continue this way and I guarantee that Albania, the Albanian institutions, the Albanian citizens and you personally will have, me personally and Albania, and the European Union constantly at your side in this direction.

I know it’s difficult times but my mood being here is a smile, thanks for the gift, this is not happening too often. I am really grateful and I am really proud for the work we can do together further on.

Thank you!