In an interview with the Italian television channel La7, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama touched upon the relations between the two countries and Italy’s support for Albania’s integration process into the European Union.

“Italy remains Italy, with its own problems that everyone tries to solve and do their best. I am a Socialist, but besides being a Socialist, I am an old brother of Italy. I feel very close to Georgia [Meloni], and she seems like a young sister of Albania. We understand each other very well. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Socialist or a Democrat or have any other inclination. The choices that the country needs should be made without falling into the trap of ideologies, as that won’t lead us anywhere,” Rama said when asked about his view of Italy under the leadership of Giorgia Meloni.

Regarding integration into the European Union, Rama stated it is a dream Albanians are born with.

“Until yesterday, others were making choices for us, empires, regimes, dictatorships, and so on. For the first time, it’s our turn to choose, and our choice is very clear. We want to be part of Europe, it’s our dream, and we are the most Euro-optimistic country on the continent. Today, we might be like lovers who want to get married at any cost, maybe later things might become more complex. But for now, we want to be part of Europe, and Italy is our most essential ally. And when Giorgia [Meloni] appears and speaks on the international stage, she seems taller than me. We will continue with our alliance, we will continue with this friendship, Italy is there for us, and we feel blessed to be close to you,” Rama said.

When asked about Europe’s handling of the influx of migrants in the Mediterranean, Rama stated that this is an old problem.

“This is an old, clear problem that unfortunately reflects a Europe that doesn’t always look straight ahead and turns to the other side when there are pressing issues like these. And what does it do in this case? It leaves everything to Italy! The fact that Italy is the first landing point on land cannot become a curse for an entire country. And if Europe is united, if Europe is a community, this is a problem for Europe, not just Italy. You know this, you have said it for years, but it’s not easy because Europe often likes to lecture and give moral lessons when it doesn’t need to show its face. And when Italy shows its face, some turn to the other side and only return to preach morality,” Rama further added.

During the interview with La7, Prime Minister Rama also focused on the boom in tourism in Albania and expressed that “we have managed to free ourselves from the stigma we carried in the 1990s when we were seen as an unsafe country”.

When asked about the secret behind the golden tourism season that Albania is experiencing, Rama replied that it’s the result of work done with passion and patience in recent years.

“It’s not a secret; it’s work done with great passion and patience in recent years. I think we have managed to free ourselves from the stigma that was attached to us in the 1990s, when we were seen as a place you wouldn’t dare to go, as it was an ‘unsafe place’, a ‘place full of criminals’, ‘poor’. To give you a statistic you may not know, Albania is the last country in Europe for home burglaries. This should give you an idea of safety. For Italians, Albania is their home because we feel like Italians, and we feel connected to Italy,” Rama expressed.

When asked about the low-cost tourism model that Albania offers, Rama emphasized that low-cost is only the beginning since prices in Albania will rise, as it’s natural.

“We are very aware that mass tourism brings with it the ‘work of ambassadors’ for the country, who speak well of us and help us strengthen this new image, but it also comes with significant risks. We are working on luxury resorts, but it will take years. So, today’s situation is not a choice; it’s a journey, and this journey also includes low prices,” Rama said.

The prime minister emphasized that Albanians regard Italy as their big home.

“We always look at you as the place where we belong for one historical or cultural reason or another, even because of the almost genetic similarity. We feel almost like Italians. In Italy, we feel like we’re in our home; we love Italy, we love Italians, and we don’t want to see you upset; we want to see you laughing. And Italy is more than beautiful; you’re blessed by God if you’re Italian and living in that wonderful place,” Rama added.