Skopje, 6 July 2023 (MIA) - We should put our hearts into supporting the Berlin Process. We are now going into another phase in the relations with the European Union. This is why the Berlin Process is of key importance now. I wish to put Open Balkan aside from the Berlin Process, but who has not been part of the Open Balkans has made a mistake, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told a joint press conference with his host Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in Skopje on Thursday. 

In response to a reporter's question on whether he'll continue to support the Open Balkan initiative, Rama said it was "not a life or death situation", because Open Balkan is one of the 72 initiatives in this region that has brought fantastic results that in reality are used by the people, they use the benefits of the Open Balkan to move freely, to trade freely. 

"We should put our hearts into supporting the Berlin Process, to restore the Berlin Process into a functional process, fully functional as the Open Balkan shows, because we can be very functional when we are together and united. The Berlin Process did not stop because of those who initiated the Open Balkan. We'll give a new stimulus to the Berlin Process. I hope that we will turn it into a process directly related to the funding plan. We need Germany, we need all the other countries, so that together we can bring life to this Berlin Process. We are now going into another phase in the relations with the European Union. This is why the Berlin Process is of key importance now. It is a bridge whose pillars should be reinforced so that we can focus on our work, and we should not have disturbances from different winds, from the Open Balkan or other initiatives. I say, let us focus on the Berlin Process. Life is beautiful because everyone can dance to their own tune in a situation of freedom and democracy. Every one of you can dance to your own music, those who expected that the Open Balkan has failed, let them sing the song about the end of the Open Balkan, and those who believe in its success can continue singing on the future life of the Open Balkan," said Rama.

According to Rama, Open Balkan has only brought benefits for the region, and he would establish it again and again, as it is not an initiative that excludes and it is not a mistake. 

"Look at the numbers, the trade exchanges between the countries and never forget what has been done, and what has been done can help us. The Berlin Process that is the umbrella, and I want to focus on it 100 percent, has benefits from the Open Balkan. I do not understand how you still doubt this when the facts are quite clear," Rama said. 

The Albanian PM said Thursday's talks in Skopje were very constructive and reaffirmed substantial agreement on a number of issues.

He commented on the European integrations that the two countries went through together, noting that the situation has improved today. 

"The good news is that the European Commission works in that direction, and very soon we will have another meeting, informal meeting in Tirana, where I would like to invite all of you, to discuss regarding the plans. We need this support, we deserve it as countries in Europe. We need to contribute today even more. I believe that the European Union needs us as much as we need the Europen Union. Another item that we discussed is the NATO Summit. Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro are NATO member states in a region that is not peaceful, and we have the need of mutual understanding, of being clear in our common communication and in the communication with the non-NATO states," said Rama. 

Asked to comment on the fact that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti refused to meet with him in Pristina, Rama said he still has hopes that Kurti "has not forgotten the canon that you should open the door and you should welcome everyone who knocks on your door, and it is not good to take them out of your home". 

Before arriving to Skopje on Thursday morning, Rama posted on Twitter that he has signed all 13 agreements of the joint meeting between the governments of Albania and Kosovo, and they have been submitted to Kosovo's Foreign Ministry.

"With the countersignature of the Kosovar side, they enter into force immediately. I remain hopeful that after the removal of the concern expressed publicly by PM Kurti for the citizens prevented from benefiting from the 13 agreements, we will also have the confirmation of the meeting with Albin this afternoon,” Rama tweeted.

On Wednesday, media outlets in Tirana reported that Rama will not cancel his Balkan tour, despite the fact that Kosovo counterpart Kurti refused to meet with him. 

Skopje is the first stop of PM Rama's Balkan tour that also includes Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.