“I do not play the father figure for anyone in their own home” / Rama on his relationship with Kurti: Our conversations flow, if there were cameras at our meetings the whole world would be surprised

During a conversation with young people in Jalë, Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke about his relations with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, as well as with the head of DUI, Ali Ahmeti.

Rama underlined that he has always respected Kosovo’s institutional independence and that he has never had any aim of interfering in its internal political developments. He also recalled a period when he had helped create dialogue among Albanian political actors in North Macedonia, stressing that the initiative had come from the parties themselves.

The head of government also touched on his ties with Ali Ahmeti, admitting that they are friends, but categorically denying any accusations of interference in election campaigns.

Regarding Albin Kurti, Rama said that although they have different approaches, they share the same strategic goals.

“From early on I had my red line, I do not play the father for anyone who has their own home, Kosovo has its own institutions. There was a time when Kosovo was being told what it should do, those were brutal years that brought only damage. In cooperation with Macedonia we had a roundtable, I do not remember the year, I facilitated the meeting between them. It was not easy for them to sit at the table, but it was their request, it was not my initiative. When they came, they could not stay in the same room with one another.

I have a friendship with Ali Ahmeti that I do not deny, but no one can say with facts that I entered the campaign, far from it. I have always been respectful.

Meanwhile, Kosovo does not depend on Albania, I meet Albin with pleasure because our conversations flow, if there were cameras at our meetings the whole world would be surprised. Fortunately, our goals are shared, our methods are different,” Rama said.