Pronunciation of Prime Minister Edi Rama after the meeting with the DP Chairman, Lulzim Basha in the President’s office:

Do we have an agreement Mr Rama? What are the negotiations outcomes?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: We are in the same position we were yesterday. The offer I have made to the Democratic Party through its chairman is the one we all know, to launch an election monitoring mechanism where the Democratic Party has both eyes in the process from within the government, with a deputy prime minister who is proposed by the Democratic Party but doesn’t come from the ranks of the Democratic Party. This deputy minister, alongside 3 representatives, namely of the United States, of the European Union and of the OSCE, will lead a Task Force to ensure that state and state assets are not misused for electoral campaigning. Three deputy ministers nominated by the Democratic Party, but not from the ranks of the Party, will be placed in the Ministry of Home Affairs, in the Ministry of Justice and in the Ministry of Education. These 3 also will be accompanied by 3 representatives of the international community acting as supervisors in order to address in real time any problems that may arise in the process, every complaint, every claim, every charge against the police, even against a single police officer in the most remote Albanian village. Or against the prisons and the role of the Prisons Director in a process where the freedom of vote and the right of people to choose according to their convictions are guaranteed. Also, throughout the education sector, in order to ensure that any claim in terms of political propaganda in classrooms, school yards, intimidation of the voting students, of the voting teachers, is addressed in real time and measures are taken in real time.

To tell the truth, I didn’t have the courage to expect such thing even in my most beautiful dreams when I was leading the opposition as chairman of the Socialist Party, but it is something that is required and it actually addresses all those problematic points of the ODIHR reports following the next and the next elections, denouncing an unfair use of the advantages generated by the state machine against the opposition.

Of course, all this must be accompanied by a regulation that is monitored by the Deputy Prime Minister in question, in terms of campaign financing ranging fuel for all state vehicles to the limitation of government activities in view of the campaign. So define together what are the government activities which the Prime Minister or the ministers have no right to do because they might influence the elections, in order not to repeat, even though we do not intend to do so, the story of rushing to open a tunnel before the election, and that tunnel fell down 10 days after the election.

With regard to the other aspect, that of the Democratic Party’s insisting demand for electronic voting and counting, I have proposed that a political minister selected by the Democratic Party, someone who has some knowledge of high technology rather than of a military armament, should immediately become part of Government with a team, with a budget, to prepare a reliable project and submit it to realize these technological advancements, which, if certified as credible, will be implemented in the upcoming local elections.

This is our offer.

Meanwhile, as for the election date, it is June 18.

This is my position. This is our position.

We don’t have much time. We’re running out of time. Our attempts to do everything we must do as a government, to guarantee the DP with regard to everything concerns the game rules, and not for as much the DP imagines with regard to the country’s “apocalypse”, have not been exhausted thus far. I’ve been ready. But I want to repeat that we don’t have another offer, and we will not have one because we don’t see room for more.

Was this proposal accepted today?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: The DP chairman will say this. I can only say that in my understanding of the conversation, the answer is no.

Have the ambassadors proposed a new draft agreement?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: The ambassadors don’t propose me drafts. I’ve welcomed all the efforts made. I’ve welcomed the platform brought here by the friend of the DP, a representative of the People’s Party, the chairman of the Foreign Commission of the European Parliament, and the envoy of Chancellor Merkel. We cannot go beyond this.

Which is the very deadline you will wait for the opposition?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I’ve already said that we haven’t been waiting for the DP for some time now. We keep doing our work to rule the country. We keep doing our work for the deep win of June 18. My greatest desire is to have a deep win with the DP within. But this doesn’t depend on me.

Did the DP continued with its request for your resign?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: It is not correct that, after a conversation which I can assure you was direct, ethical and without any tent-related tones, I comment now on the DP chairman. He will be here in a while and will comment on his position.

You said that you haven’t even fantasized about such proposal, but in reality you have seen the postponement of elections.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: You mix up ingredients that should not be mixed up with each other. The story is quite different. If you read the story and repeat it just by heart, you will understand that it has no connection at all.

Who asked for today’s meeting?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: This is not important at all because we’re not here in the situation where we will show who asked for the meeting to decide on one or the other’s position. I have asked for this meeting since 2 or more months. I have expressed my willingness to sit and talk. I was asked to resign as a leaflet at the meeting. I did not submit this leaflet. We’ve finally sat down. Better late than never. Everything that can include the Democratic Party, while respecting the right of those who have given me the mandate, is worth doing.

Is your position supported by international partners as a political solution, Mr Rama?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: You listen to our partners. Ask them when you are given the chance. I don’t comment either on our partners or on the conversation I had with the DP chairman. I only explain my position and that of the alliance I rule.

Would you enjoy a win without the DP in these elections?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: A win is a win. It’s always enjoyable. Either the DP will be there or not, it’s not a decision taken by me, by us or by you. This is a decision taken by the leadership of the DP.

Will you meet again with Mr Basha?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I can meet him again and always. Meanwhile, elections will take place on June 18, and we keep working to win them.

You mentioned earlier that you have the feeling that the opposition will not accept your offer. How come you are convinced about this?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Again, I don’t want to comment on the person who is going to be here shortly after. I am just explaining my position. I told you, this is the offer. Of course, had we had an offer, I would have told you that. Both of us would have been here before you, I think. But there’s no agreement, and there won’t be on our part more than this about an agreement.

Will there be further negotiations?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: We can talk about our offer any moment. As for the rest, Mr Basha can keep telling them in the tent.

For how longer will you be waiting for Mr Basha?

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I have not been waiting for some time now. But I will meet with him any moment I can, and I will talk with him. Life goes on.

Good bye!