Edi Rama’s Albania: A Pivot to Europe | Bigger Than Five

The Western Balkan nation of Albania is an increasingly strategic partner for the West. On key issues including Europe's immigration challenges and NATO's military alliance, the small country is drawing big power interest whilst it navigates the hurdles of becoming an EU member state.

We travel to Tirana where Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama tells Ghida Fakhry of his country's 'blind love' for Europe and warns of the rising nationalism on the continent.

Subscribe:

[arbenpataj]

The short period of ties between Albania and Russia were broken out since 1960s. Historicly Russia was the main reason of dividing Albanian territories since 1800

[masterg]

ALBANIA AND 20 MILION ALBANIANS ARE STRONGS AND WILL THRIVE FOR EVER LIKE THOUSDS OF YEARS IN THE PAST

[LuigiMario-es]

We Are Not a Small Nation
We Are 20 Million Albanians
All Around The World ..

[FrancShenpremtja]

Yes small contry 25 milion people around the world

[_the_one_]

THE BEST LEADER IN THE WORLD! He has the vision and always aim for peace and dialog as solution to all sort of problems. He literally sacrifices his family time for Albania, is the first to wake up and work hard and the last to sleep. There is no weekend for him and after following for a long time seeing almost all his appearances -- very hard to keep up though -- it's easy to understand that his strongest "weapon" against opposition is his hard work and until now, there is no-one that works that hard and that much.

THANK YOU, EDI RAMA

[AlexSBedini]

Very empty interview! All the answers were generic without conclusions! They were like an abstract painting! The interviewer should have pushed for more specific and argumentative answers!

[Eagles]

Albania knows that danger comes from East. Look at our history...

[fre]

As an albanian i can say he isnt as stupid as he sounds, just highly corrupt and he is used not answering to any journalist inside the country or abroad

[_the_one_]

WHY EVERY ANSWER FROM THE PRIME MINISTER IS CUT OFF??? WTF is this interview?

[lido]

Albanians needs, is a good country management not eu

[albania]

Albania 🇦🇱 with United States of America 🇺🇸 and Europe 🇪🇺...Towards the west..we suffered with the stupid Eastern mentality...Long live Albania and western world 🌎

[DangeloLive]

Albania is wise to keep a balanced stance between the declining West and the rising East. Historically, our problems have come from Western powers and our Christian Slavic and Greek neighbors. Now, the West needs Albania as it weakens, hoping to use us as a buffer against Serbia, whose main ally is Russia. However, we have never had issues with Russia. Instead of being drawn into the West’s conflicts, we should aim to be friends with everyone and enemies with no one. Our true and honest ally is Turkey, where many Albanians live, and we share deep spiritual, intellectual, and blood ties. Turkey is on its way to becoming the most powerful country in Europe in the next 10 years.

We have given Turkey at least 20 Prime Ministers. Turkey’s founding father had Albanian blood. Our own founding fathers were educated in Turkey. Out of 85 M people in Turkey, about 16M have Albanian blood. There are more Albanians in Turkey than there are Albanians in the world combined.

We do not need the Western transgender agendas or genocidal agendas; the West needs Albania. While they may be our allies, they have never truly known or cared for us. We should see Turkey as our strategic partner, Italy as our regional ally. The Italian and Turkish peoples admire each other.

Albania can be a unique bridge between Italy and Turkey forming a wonderful and strategic bridge - Rome - Tirana - Istanbul. America is our international ally, but we need to keep in mind we are not very close and most Americans don’t know where Albania is even located. America is spread out throughout the globe - and at some
point it can abandon its interests in the region.

We also hope Germany will become a closer ally, but it first need to regain its independence from US influence.

Albania is unique and should remain a bridge, not just another follower of the West. This unique position will allow us to thrive and protect our interests!

[albania]

Us Albanians we need to get rid of this title that we are a Muslim country..it's embarrassing for us ..
..world needs to know we are not Muslim we are European people Albanians...

[merxho]

I hate his answering its like an painter describing painting it doesnt give clear answers or at least show pathway to answers.
I hope Albania will elect leaders that are serious ahead of the challenges that need to be overcome to join EU.

[freeatlast]

Who ever is running this show only if they really knew the prime Minister Rama and his love for people !! You will ashamed soon for glorifying him because is a pivot of himself and only himself !

[costatv]

we albanians are majority christians (42% orthodoxes + 23% catholics) and the rest ours brothers bektashis who wrongly counted muslims cause they haven't mosques but teqes. long live 🇦🇱✝️🙏

[beharkurtaj]

What reason could show to the EU that we are pro West other then more than 2 million Albanians migrating west i mean Eu is blind in this sense, theyre not interested in helping people that want the rule of law

[MUHAMMADHAMZA-jylu]

If you want to learn how to build efficient & functioning institutions, don't wait for instructions from EU, simply hire a top Consulting Company like Mckinsey

[hashhaf]

Dear God!.he is either playing dumb or he really does not have the idea of what he is saying, actually.

[mstrjangulli]

Not every albanian wants to be anchored in political europe. Not amount of digitalization will change the mindset of albanians as quick as Rama claims.