BERLIN – Prime Minister Edi Rama met with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday and the two appeared at a joint press conference following bilateral talks.
During the press conference, PM Rama expressed appreciation for the cordial welcome from German Chancellor Merkel on the 104th anniversary of Albania’s independence and at a key moment on Albania’s path towards membership of the EU.
PM Rama also thanked Chancellor Merkel for taking her time to meet him for third time over past three years.
“Albanians in Albania and in the region and beyond are deeply grateful for the Germany’s support to Albania during this process. The Berlin Process has become inspirational to Albania and other countries in the region,”, the Albanian government head said.
Rama went on saying that Albania seeks no undeserved things on its path towards EU membership.
“We didn’t embark on this path because we were asked by the Brussels or Berlin to do so, but because this was the last supreme will of our founding fathers to embrace Western and European values of economic and social prosperity,” he said.
“Albania – Rama went on saying – fully supports the condition set forth in the European Commission’s recommendation for the country to open accession talks with the European Union.
In her remarks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel took note of Albania’s progress and commended PM Rama for the steady progress.
“The Federal Republic of Germany has been trying to assist and support Albania by sending its representatives to the EURALIUS mission and contributing to the efforts to make judicial reform operational and it is important to continue on this path,” Merkel said.
“European Commission has mentioned five priorities that include sustainable implementation of the justice system reform, the fight against organized crime and corruption. These are permanent steps that should be made,” German Chancellor stated.