Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that Albania did not hand over any Jews to the German Nazis during the Second World War.

Rama made the comments during his speech in Aachen, Germany, at the traditional “Charlemagne” award ceremony.

Rama said that Albania was the only country in Europe that had more Jews after World War II than before it started.

He called for more cooperation and understanding between countries, leaving room for tolerance.

“During the course of history, Europe has learned to be more self-critical. A destructive spirit has entered the minds of men. The tendency to censor is quite obvious. The attitude of either you or me, but never together, becomes quite strong. Albania, a country with a Muslim majority, was the only country in Europe that had more Jews after the Second World War, before it started.

For Albanians, tolerance was not simply a passive acceptance or barely acknowledging one’s diversity. There is no record of a single Jew being captured or handed over to the Nazis. Just to tolerate, as Goethe wrote, is to insult. He emphasized that tolerance is rooted in respect.

Let me thank you, it is not just tolerance for the sake of peaceful coexistence. The tolerance expressed by the Muslim and Christian Albanians towards the Jews requires its own spirit of devotion. Resolving disagreements with respect, continuing to build bridges. Let’s challenge ourselves”, said Rama.