Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has issued a sharp response to former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras following the latter's criticism of an incident in Zvërnec. Rama, via a detailed post on X, expressed his frustration that Tsipras’s new party has framed an isolated clash as a broader issue involving minority rights and the rule of law.
Clarifying the Context Rama emphasized that the incident did not occur during a standard protest for property rights. Instead, he described the event as taking place in a climate of tension fueled by disinformation, aimed at obstructing legitimate international investors operating on private land.
"The unfortunate and ugly incident in Zvërnec did not happen during a normal protest for property rights," Rama stated. He noted that the situation was exacerbated by efforts to block lawful activities of investors who hold valid titles in accordance with Albanian law.
Swift Institutional Response Addressing the handling of the event, the Prime Minister highlighted the immediate actions taken by Albanian authorities:
- The arrest of the private security personnel involved.
- The revocation of the security company's operating license.
- The dismissal of the Vlora police director.
Rama questioned why Tsipras would characterize the incident as a systemic failure, arguing that such rhetoric is irresponsible and contradicts the European values they both claim to uphold. He stressed that Albania's commitment to property rights and the protection of the Greek minority—which he described as a "treasure"—is a constitutional obligation rather than a matter of political convenience.
A Call for Fact-Based Diplomacy The Albanian leader concluded his message by urging his "old friend" to avoid the common political temptation of using nationalist sentiment to galvanize support. He insisted that bilateral relations should be based on verified facts and institutional respect, rather than internal political speculation.
