Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke in Dublin, Ireland, about his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, his closeness to members of the President’s family, and projects related to Albania. During a discussion organized by the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), Rama was asked whether his closeness to Trump and the people around him should be a cause for concern, especially in the context of a major investigation expected to begin in January.
The head of government also referred to the character of Albanians, linking it to that of the Irish. “Albanians and Irish people share stubbornness and a lack of sophistication”, Rama said. The Prime Minister revealed that after Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, he had received warnings that he could find himself in a difficult position because of his relationships with George Soros and his son. However, according to Rama, he does not view the friendship through the prism of political changes.
Part of the discussion was also devoted to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the U.S. president, and his project in Albania. Rama clarified that the first contacts for this project had begun at a time when Donald Trump’s political comeback was far from certain. “I saw an American who wanted to do something for my country”, Rama stated, stressing that Albania must remain a hospitable country for American investors, regardless of their family or political ties. He also brought up the country’s communist past, arguing that in Albania no one should be prejudged because of their family or origin.
“Albania is very hospitable to Americans, whether it is Soros’s son or Trump’s son-in-law, and I maintain this, because we come from communism, where, being someone’s son, you could go to prison or rise to the top”, the Prime Minister said. In conclusion, Rama insisted that projects and economic relations should be examined on the basis of merit and transparency, not through political interpretations or theories.
“So, we should not judge by theories, but by merit. Nor do I want to know what happens in the USA, but I know that, when it comes to this project, there is nothing to hide and nothing to fear”, Rama concluded.