– Gjon Bruçi –
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the UK Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron, visited Albania. At the end of his short visit, he held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, where they discussed joint efforts to combat illegal immigration and projects to advance initiated reforms and the economic development of our country.
Cameron highlighted Albania’s achievements, emphasizing the judicial reforms for which he stated Britain would continue to assist. Regarding migration, he said, “We have an excellent and outstanding partnership because irregular migration is a problem encountered throughout Europe. In the case of Albania and the United Kingdom, you have shown that you are innovative and creative, working on these partnerships, and as a result, achieving excellent outcomes.” At the end of his speech, Secretary Cameron announced the construction of the Durrës-Prishtina Railway, sponsored by the United Kingdom.
Due to his tight schedule, after the meeting with Prime Minister Rama and the joint press conference, Cameron departed for England, cancelling other planned meetings. The reasons soon became clear: England is heading for early elections on July 4 this year, necessitating his immediate return for a government cabinet meeting.
However, what interests us, the Albanian citizens, is the real discussion and “draft agreement” between the two statesmen, which, based only on the press conference, remains somewhat obscure. Cameron’s speech at the press conference had three main points:
First: Albania has achieved significant results in the economy, tourism, and especially in fruitful cooperation with the EU and even with the Security Council, where our country recently had its “honorary chair,” directed by our charismatic Prime Minister.
Second: The surprising announcement that the United Kingdom will sponsor the Durrës-Prishtina Railway, a dream we dared not see even at night, let alone during the day.
Third: The joint commitment of the two states to manage illegal refugees travelling clandestinely by boats and dinghies from Albania to England, a commitment that Albania has remarkably innovatively realized.
The first two points, those of “significant successes” in the economy, tourism and reforms, particularly the “sponsorship of the giant Durrës-Prishtina Railway,” made us smile ear to ear. But the issue of “cooperation for the refugees” brought our ears and noses to the ground. How will this “cooperation” with the major state in northern Europe for illegal refugees travelling to the big island clandestinely by boats and dinghies work?
My suspicions about the possible agreement have a basis, even a strong and historical one. Throughout history, Great Britain has been against Albania’s interests; at least from 1878 to 1990. Especially the period from 1945 to 1990 was the most severe in state relations between Albania and Great Britain. During this period, not only was the green light for diplomatic relations between the two states not given, but it was also accompanied by diversionist groups sent from England or states where it had its “institutions,” heading to Albania to incite uprisings against the government that the people had won through blood and sweat during the joint struggle with the progressive world against the nazi-fascist axis of Berlin-Rome-Tokyo.
Unfortunately, I cannot explain why, even in the 34 years of the “democratic” transition, no significant British state personality has appeared in Albania. Except for the period after Kosova’s war against Serbian-Slavic genocide, when Tony Blair came to our country…
In his book “The Anglo-American Threat to Albania,” Enver Hoxha, among other things, said: “ALBANIA — A TOKEN FOR BARTER FOR THE ‘BRITISH LION’!” This “history,” proven in all old and new times, makes me doubt Cameron’s praises and gifts. I convey this suspicion with a rhetorical question: Could it be that the praises for our successes up to the Security Council and the promise for the Durrës-Prishtina Railway are tied to some “agreement” similar to that of Rama with Meloni of Italy?
For a government chair, our political and state leaders, like Rama, Sali, Meta and some others after them are ready to turn Albania into the “Rwanda of Europe”!
I hope it turns out differently and my “suspicion” is unfounded!
(Translated from the Albanian original and first published in “Gazeta SOT” on May 24, 2024)
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