15:39 09/12/2022
Prime Minister Edi Rama has undertaken to convince EU leaders to understand that Turkey is not a third actor for our region.
He himself is very convinced of this, so at the annual world forum for peace and security held in Istanbul, speaking about this issue when President Erdogan was sitting in front of him, he asks the leaders of the Union to see Turkey’s contribution not only to Albania, but also the other 5 countries of the region.
Edi Rama: It is also very important to say clearly and strongly to all our European and American friends that in Southeast Europe and especially in the Western Balkans, Turkey is not a third power.. So let me say it properly: Turkey is a regional power and for our region, for the Western Balkans, it is decisive.
Rama states that Turkey has served in many cases as a factor of stability and negotiation for the resolution of many crises within the European Union.
Edi Rama: Turkey is key to the stability of Europe and if we were to imagine for a single moment the opposite, think how terribly Europe would fall if its back door was not so guarded by Turkey and precisely thanks to your president.
Rama did not shy away from talking about Europe’s mistakes in relation to Turkey.
Edi Rama: Instead of engaging with Turkey more meaningfully, the EU is left with a limited sense of its strategic independence that revolves around normative models of rules..
Rama’s friendship with Erdogan is affirmed with a strong voice and he repeated his appreciation for the Turkish president several times.
Edi Rama: Turkey under the leadership of President Erdoğan is serving as a guide how to be completely principled in the meantime, not to negotiate things like territorial integrity, not to pave the way for snap elections, but on the other hand never forget the bottom line. that power is about people.
The World Turkey Forum is a platform that annually gathers not only policy makers and senior decision makers, but also academics, journalists and politicians who exchange their perspectives on security and peace.
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