"I have no preference", Rama speaks from Madrid about the elections in Kosovo, attacks the Serbian opposition

From Madrid, where he participated in the World Law Congress, Prime Minister Edi Rama gave an interview to "El Mundo" .

Asked about the elections in Kosovo, Rama said he had no preference for the results, recalling the clashes he had with Albin Kurti due to the relationship with Serbia.

Rama did not spare the Serbian opposition, which he called less Western than Aleksandar Vučić.

While talking about the plan to close Tik Tok, Rama said that it is just a matter of days.

Interview:

Question: International politics seems to be accelerating every day. How do you interpret Trump's plan for the Gaza Strip?

Rama : I have no comment on this. I think the plan needs to be clarified, understood and harmonized with all other actors. It's still early.

Question: Other decisions of the new US president affect your country, such as the virtual disappearance of the agency responsible for international aid (USAID) and the suspension of the resettlement of Afghan refugees. How will Albania handle it?

Rama : There will be no problem with Afghan refugees living in Albania. If they want to stay in our country, they can do so, they cannot return to their country and stop the violence. These are not big numbers for us, they are only a few hundred people.

Question: The Italian judiciary has almost paralyzed the migration agreement between your country and Italy, and the European Court of Justice will soon rule on safe countries. Do you have confidence in the future of this plan?

Rama : I have to ask the Italians, it is not up to me to say what will happen. We signed the agreement and it is Italy that implements it, because we are not part of it. We simply respond when our neighbor asks us for help. Europe must implement a common immigration policy, which avoids political use and protects border control, but also opens up to legal immigration.

Question: Albania has brotherly relations with Kosovo, which is holding parliamentary elections tomorrow. What do you think the future of the country will be?

Rama : Kosovo is a democratic, vibrant and diverse country. And, like all Balkan countries, it fights with a lot of passion and a lot of noise, but that's okay. I wish them well, but I have no preference for the election results. I am a friend and I respect everyone. I wish the citizens of Kosovo all the best for whatever decision they will make.

Question: In Serbia, President Vučić has been facing student protests for three months and the prime minister resigned last week. What is your opinion on what is happening?

Rama : The problem I have with the Serbian opposition is that without going into the dynamics of domestic politics, it does not seem more pro-European or pro-Western than the president. As for Kosovo, they do not seem to be more progressive. For the rest, it is not my place to comment, because it is an internal matter of Serbia. But, I believe and hope that in the end dialogue will have to prevail because the taking of a government by force should never happen on European soil.

Question: How are the negotiations for Albania's EU membership progressing?

Rama : The negotiations with the EU are going very well, we are working hard to achieve this. We have a very ambitious plan together with the European Commission until 2027 to move forward on the political side and, if everything goes according to plan, which is not easy to say in these times when something happens every day, Albania could be a member of the EU in 2030.

Question: Do you see integration closer than a year ago?

Rama : It is closer than when Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine, because, unfortunately, our friends in Brussels and in European capitals were forced to wake up in this way. I hope that Trump will be another wake-up call for Europe to change and be more realistic about the challenges and the passage of time: not to postpone its change, because otherwise it could mean the end of Europe.

Question: Do you think that the future membership of the Balkans in the EU is harmful to you if seen in the bloc?

Rama : It doesn't work like that, because negotiations are based on merits and these are inseparable. Each country must meet the criteria and each has its own speed, capabilities and agenda.

Question: A month ago, you decided to suspend the Chinese social network TikTok for a year. What was the reason for this measure? Are you already seeing the first results you were expecting?

Rama : TikTok is very toxic, especially for children and 95% of parents in Albania are terrified. The suspension has not yet been carried out, we estimate that it will be done within a few days. We are also engaging in constructive dialogue with them. I was surprised by your willingness to address our concerns. It will be closed and reopened as long as TikTok meets all our demands.