Albania-Italy cooperation, Rama: Historic day for Albania's international relations
Albania and Italy, for the first time, held a joint government meeting, where 16 joint agreements were signed. The government cabinet led by Chief Executive Edi Rama traveled to Rome, while Italian Prime Minister Meloni had reserved an official reception for her counterpart at the Villa Doria Pamphili.
After the exchange of agreements between the ministers of the two governments, Rama and Meloni held a joint press conference, who described this meeting as a historic day for the two countries. The leaders of the two countries, Rama-Meloni, called the meeting a historic day, praising the good relations between the two countries.
"Today is a historic day for us, every time I go to NATO I hear people talk about historic days, but this is historic because for the first time the Albanian government sits down with the Italian government to talk about joint projects," said Rama.
"I want to thank Prime Minister Rama, the ministers and ambassadors who have worked for this historic day," said Meloni.
Prime Minister Rama said that the agreement signed between the Italian state-owned company Fincantieri and the Albanian one, KAYO, between the two defense ministries, concerns the construction of at least 7 ships in Pashaliman.
"There are two shuttles, but above all there are 7 ships that will be built in Pashaliman by an Italian-Albanian company, the Italian side will be Fincantieri, the Albanian side will be KAYO. And this will be a joint venture that will create jobs, known to young Albanians and that will supply Albania, Italy, but also other countries if there is a need with ships that are so important in the days we live in," said Rama.
Present are: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku; Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali; Justice Minister Besfort Lamallari; Interior Minister Albana Koçiu; Defense Minister Pirro Vengu; Health and Social Protection Minister Evis Sala; Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj; Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja; Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj; and Adea Pirdeni, Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption.
Italy has held other joint meetings with EU member states, but this is the first time it will sit at a joint table with a member state of the Union.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says that the sacrifice of Albanians in 1943 to save thousands of Italian soldiers from Nazism deserves to be remembered and re-evaluated.
Question: I would like to ask you about something that happened 80 years ago. In September 1943, thousands of Italian soldiers lost in Albania were hidden by Albanians, who sheltered and protected them from the Nazis. Do you think it is time that this page of mutual humanity deserves to be remembered and re-evaluated today?
Giorgia Meloni: Yes, it deserves to be remembered and re-evaluated. There are several projects that are being prepared in this sense. This is an extraordinary page of history and our relations. If our readiness for this idea were required, we would have it immediately.
Edi Rama: I would like to add that we are proud of two very important moments in our history. One is the most well-known to all Albanians — which is the rescue of Jews during World War II. A time when Albania ended the war with more Jews than it started, and there is no known record of a single person of Jewish identity surrendering to the Nazis. But another part of history that is equally important is the one that has to do with the Italian soldiers who arrived in Albania to escape the Nazis. There were 25 thousand who were rescued by the Albanians. There was an Italian officer, a high-ranking Italian officer, who lost his life in Albania at that time, and the Albanians buried him with the highest honors. His son, an Italian army officer in 1991, became the key person in organizing the "Arco Baleno" mission, an Italian mission to come to the aid of Albania in an extraordinary phase after its exit from communism.
The Prime Minister said that the agreement signed between the Italian state-owned company Fincantieri and the Albanian one, KAYO, between the two Defense Ministries, concerns the construction of at least 7 ships in Pashaliman. Rama added that Albania will soon supply Italy with ships and, if necessary, other countries as well.
"There are not two shuttle buses, but when the news needs to be negative, there are only 2, when the news needs to be positive, it is as it is."
There are two shuttles, but above all there are 7 ships that will be built in Pasha Liman by an Italian-Albanian company, the Italian side will be Fincantieri, the Albanian side will be KAYO. And this will be a joint venture that will create jobs, known to young Albanians and that will supply Albania, Italy, but also other countries if there is a need with ships that are so important in the days we live in", said Rama.
Prime Minister Rama and his counterpart, Meloni, also spoke about relations with the Greek state.
Question: You talked about the first 6 months of 2028. You talked about Albanian ministers who speak Italian, but I assure you that we have ministers who speak Greek well, we don't help with Greece.
There is talk of two patrol boats. This will also be used to stop the migratory flow. I would remind you of the serious incident with the Sibila ship and the Italian state has still not apologized.
Meloni: As far as the open issue of political dialogue is concerned, we are in support of Albania's entry into the EU while respecting the rules. I think that the fact that the agreements would be concluded with the latter also shows a good job that has been done by Albania. We are following it and trying to facilitate it. There was also talk today about the involvement of Italian law universities in the drafting of jurisdictional texts.
I know there are some frictions, I know my Greek friends and I want to say that they are people who have worked for the good of Europe.
Rama: I would say that both Italy and Greece are two neighboring countries. The fact that there is a sea in between relaxes us as long as we meet each other. We are in the line of contact, maybe it can be complicated because we do not have time to relax by swimming while we cross by boat to get to the other. I would say that after a difficult moment for all the reasons that everyone knows, we are on the right track, we are working well together. For us, the values of protecting minorities are values and principles that are inseparable from the existence of Albania. When Albania puts before us or, as it were, calls us in this direction or makes any remarks to us, they are welcome. I am optimistic that in fact in 2028, when Italy will have the presidency and Georgia will lead the negotiations, there will be no need to call Kyriakos (Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis), because by then we will have resolved everything.
We are certainly more than happy to help, to lend a hand because it is not often that Italy asks Albania for help. I will never forget what the Italian fire brigade did when we had the earthquake. They risked their lives to save the lives of people in a country they had come to for the first time. These are things that remain forever and make Italy not just an ally, but a sister to Albania.
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