Historian, author, and acclaimed British journalist Timothy Garton Ash made an appearance on Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama\u2019s podcast \u201cFlasim\u201d this Saturday.<\/p>\n
During his conversation with Prime Minister Rama, Timothy Garton Ash highlighted the significant advantage of being both a journalist and a historian simultaneously. According to him, \u201cboth roles share a fundamental quest for the truth\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth our roles are about seeking the truth, although we approach it differently. Conflicts arise when one begins to think \u2013 I refer to it as \u2018the Kissinger rite\u2019 \u2013 that they are a decision-maker, striving to act as a government and shape government policies, rather than pursuing our primary duty, which is to search for the truth and present it as it is, by telling the truth to those in power. I have always believed that this is the essence of what I have done,\u201d he expressed.<\/p>\n
Garton Ash characterized Brexit as the \u201cgreatest political defeat in his lifetime\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy whole life has revolved around Europe; I am an English European, so Britain\u2019s separation from Europe is a tragedy for Britain, but I also think for the European Union and the future of Europe. However, I do not think that Brexit has severed the British strand that you described. I think it is still there,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
According to the historian, the mistake made by Tony Blair was his belief that unlimited openness was possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpening of society, opening of finances, opening of the economy, opening of immigration without any reaction! Because, in fact, there was a reaction. And the slogan of the Brexit supporters, which gave them the victory, was \u2018Take back control\u2019. What is happening now in Germany is that German leaders are talking about \u2018Kontrollverlust\u2019 (loss of control). So, I think all our societies need that feeling that things are under control, that immigration is being managed. So, I think this was a mistake of Blair\u2019s years, which we paid dearly for. But the fact that we are now trying to get it under control, like all other European countries, does not mean it is the end of our cultural diversity; it is beyond that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Discussing the future of the European Union, the British historian stated: \u201cIf a new generation of Europeans were mobilized, not only to protect what we have achieved, which is the best Europe we have ever had, but also to expand and improve it, which is entirely possible, after 10 years, we could look back and have a Union of 35 states and have succeeded in protecting what we have, the free way of life in Europe. It is possible, but it is in our hands\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to him, \u201cthis should happen without any single country as a hegemon\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Historian, author, and acclaimed British journalist Timothy Garton Ash made an appearance on Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama\u2019s podcast \u201cFlasim\u201d this Saturday. During his conversation with Prime Minister Rama, Timothy Garton Ash highlighted the significant advantage of being both a journalist and a historian simultaneously. According to him, \u201cboth roles share a fundamental quest for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":62303,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[270,5031,5030,308,243,151,4654,1753,477,5016,786],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n