Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama at a meeting with families of police officers died on duty and of the military in missions abroad:

First of all Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year!

We are here today to replace somehow the parents who are absent, although this is actually impossible. Parents who are absent because they are committed in the line of war in military missions abroad for a safer world, and parents who are absent because they died on duty in their noble mission of protecting the peace and security within the homeland. Military parents who under the green uniform honor our country, side by side other allies in the context of peacekeeping missions or missions of the free world resistance to the deadly epidemic of terror, and the military under the blue uniform. Since 1990 until today, 211 fellow citizens have been away from their wives, mothers, fathers and children. 150 of them have been declared “Martyrs of the Nation” and have marked their names in the eternity of the nation’s altar leaving behind a vacuum, leaving behind painful memories, but also a brilliant legacy for their children.

We are aware that whatever we do cannot compensate for the loss of your family, but we are also aware that we must do everything we can, so that the children of police officers killed in the line of duty will not miss parental care in the journey of their life. The same parental care that for every ordinary child who has both parents is materialized in the form of investment for education.

Today, by decision of our Government, all children of the killed officers who wish to walk in the footsteps of their parents are admitted to the Police Academy without competition. And this is not a violation of competition or violation of merit, but an expression of the deep conviction that the high value of the virtue of uncompromising service to duty has been marked in the mind of any of these children once and for all. All children of killed police officers, both adults and little ones, have inherited an uncontested capital, the capital of this high virtue. And for this reason they are and should always be proud of their parents.

On the other hand, we have been especially attentive so that police forces, devoted people under the police uniform will neither feel the state and government’s respect only in the moments of major difficulty, nor will they have to lose their lives in order for their mission to be honored and respected. And for this reason, we are especially committed to the renaissance of the State Police, with particular attention to improving the quality of life in the family of every employee of the State Police.

We have inherited a very difficult financial situation. We are on the right path to come out from a financial mess and a cul-de-sac of economic collapse, and have been forced to submit to a strict program of reforms, one of whose points is that we need some time, two or three years, before we start thinking and acting to increase the salaries of all state employees.

But this has not prevented us from immediately increasing and almost doubling the salaries of first-level employees of the police. This has not prevented us from having a special health treatment for Special and Operational Forces, ensuring them checkup, treatment, surgery or any other medical service they will need with the highest standards at the state’s expenses.

The construction of the Security University and of the High School State Police was mentioned earlier. This will increase even more results and successes of the State Police, and will be in the future a safe address for all children of police officers killed in the line of duty who want to continue in the footsteps of their parents.

Meanwhile, officers who retire early or receive a supplementary retirement will benefit a pension raise of 173 thousand ALL more than they used to benefit with the old law. In addition, 640 police officers who have worked for over 30 years will benefit a pension of 400 thousand ALL per month. All these are not sufficient to reward one of the hardest jobs in our Republic, and the people who every day get out of their houses to go and fight in the most difficult front, the front of the fight against crime. However, all these are a meaningful expression of our awareness that, any time we are able to do more, we will do more in the first place for the people who under the blue uniform are devoted to the security of our citizens.

And, on the other hand, I am very proud that despite the objective difficulties and constraints that our budget still has today, not only have we not forgotten, but we have rewarded on the New Year’s eve, the toil, the sacrifices and the needs of all those who deserve special attention; starting from the retired heads of family and the disabled who have never had before the proper attention to get a reward on New Year’s Eve, to families that receive economic assistance. But there is certainly more. There are rewards not only for those who are in difficulty, but also rewards for those who have been more committed than others. Among them definitely are in the place of honor all the military forces who are devoted to the global image and security, to ensure the safety of our country in missions abroad, together with the police officers died on duty, whose families must have the opportunity to not deprive any child of the New Year’s gifts.

It is with great pleasure that I wish all children a joyful New Year and, I will not hide it from you, I feel very proud and very good that, thanks to this modest financial support, all mothers, all parents of police officers who died on duty will be able to fulfill their children’s wishes for New Year’s presents.

Every word and every speech, no matter how long, cannot express what families here present, or those who belong to these categories and could not be here, deserve. So, I conclude bowing with gratitude, not only to the memory of those who died in the line of duty, not only to the commitment of those who will spend New Year in the fronts of the war, but also to all of you. And, in the first place, to all mothers who have to pass the test of raising and educating their children, ensuring their future, without having their spouses by their sides. Eternal gratitude and respect!

Once again, Happy New Year! I feel good also because we will not distribute presents as it used to be in the past. Instead, you will join hands with your children and go and buy them the presents they want.

Thank you!