Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha spoke to the Greek media outlet “LiFO” regarding the political situation in Albania and bilateral relations with Greece.
Focusing on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreement reached during his term in office, Berisha described it as “the best possible” for both countries. He harshly criticized Prime Minister Rama for not implementing it, accusing him of obstructing the process for political reasons and external influences.
“I am very happy and very optimistic that we will get rid of Edi Rama’s government, which does not respect any law, any rule, any criterion, any standard,” Berisha told “LiFO”.
Asked by Greek journalists about the potential for improving Albanian-Greek relations, Berisha expressed with full conviction that: “They could be better. There is no reason why they cannot be better and I am deeply convinced of this.”
He recalled the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 1996 with the then Greek president, Costis Stefanopoulos, describing this document as an important historical step that helped overcome many inherited problems between the two countries.
According to LiFO, relations between Berisha’s government and that of former Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis were particularly close, which was concretized with the signing of the agreement on the division of the continental shelf and other maritime areas between the two states.
However, this agreement was not finalized with ratification, as it was sent to the Constitutional Court of Albania by the opposition led at the time by Edi Rama.
“Edi Rama was the man who, in my deep conviction, acted against the national interest of Albania, blocking an agreement that was the best we could have had. It was a winning agreement for both sides,” Berisha said.
He also cast doubt on the motives behind this decision, hinting that Rama may have acted under the influence of external actors. “Edi Rama probably, under pressure from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sent him to the Constitutional Court,” Berisha concluded.
Berisha also expressed great respect for the former Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, Anastas Janullatos.
“He came as a great Greek and left as a great Albanian. He revived the Church with dedication, in an extraordinary way,” says Berisha, emphasizing that respect for him was widespread, beyond the Orthodox community.
