Prime Minister Edi Rama has spoken again about his clash with the French Embassy in Tirana, on the issue of vaccines.
Rama says that he has not quarreled with the EU, but has given an opinion on what he calls a wrong decision. He says that for the love he has for France, he competes with every Frenchman, even with the French ambassador. But this, according to him, does not mean that he should keep his mouth shut in front of something he sees as unfair.
"I have not had any trouble with the EU and no one stops me from giving my opinion. Don't take my opinion but WHO's. When I said don't take my opinion I was just giving an example of why I am right in this case and those who have reacted. Neither the French embassy nor the opposition is right.
My example is the WHO, take what it said about the distribution of the vaccine, it went further than me and said we are in a moral catastrophe for humanity. I can't speak on behalf of all humanity, I'm not big enough to express myself in global terms but if you consider it unreasonable for me as your prime minister to raise my voice for you, I'm sorry but don't think like you Albanians.
The fact that we are not members of the EU does not make us keep our mouths shut in front of such a fact.
It is clear, I am not the prime minister of an EU country, but I am a European, at least as much as those who speak on behalf of the EU. No one can change my European being, not even if I am prime minister or a free citizen of this country who has a voice.
What I said that upset them is a matter of character, the opposition has its own character, weak character. When they were in power, they servilely bowed down to anyone who speaks a foreign language, I don't belong in this category, what I said has nothing to do with disrespect.
For my love for France and respect I can compete with a Frenchman and the ambassador. But we are not here for that. When I brought France as an example, I could have taken another country. The EU's decision is wrong, they are wrong, we are wrong. We have the right to say when they are wrong with us. Here the word is to protect people, dignity.
To guarantee the protection of people, I don't have the mother's tongue to put him to sleep, why are you worried, you are afraid that the EU will get upset. And if you're upset, what's the problem if this is the truth?!"- declared Rama.
