From Kiev, Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the countries of the Western Balkans will each rebuild a block of flats for residents in Irpin, today destroyed by Russian bombing.

In the joint press conference with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Rama said that such a thing will be done in a “Balkan” way, without many procedures.

“I am pleased that you have agreed to our proposal to join efforts to build a block ,each of the countries building its own for Irpin families. I know that the EU and many others are part of this effort, but let us do it in a Balkan way, without much bureaucracy and be the first to do it. We express our full support for your idea and request for the EU to grant Ukraine candidate status. We look forward to sharing our names with you in this joint statement. We do not want to speculate that the EU has not kept its word with us and why they should do something now for Ukraine. We are not happy with the EU, but we are committed to the European journey for future generations. We understand this desire of Ukraine to receive the status of candidate country and from our side you have our full support”, said Rama.

He added that Albania, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, would raise its concerns about Ukraine.

“I am proud to share with you that Albania, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council is privileged to give a voice around that table to the concerns and demands of the Ukrainian people for a just peace,” Rama said.

Rama also mentioned Kosovo, where he said that although Ukraine has not yet recognized it, the country has undertaken all sanctions against Russia.

 “Take the example of Albania and Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, all support you, there is a country that Ukraine has not recognized yet , Kosovo that is doing exactly the same thing that everyone is doing, so it means that we are in a well-compared line, I strongly believe that it is the right thing to do,”said Rama.

On the other hand, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized the issue of EU integration, saying that the countries of the Western Balkans and Ukraine deserve to be part of the union.

“Today we hosted a very important meeting, practically a summit of Ukraine and the countries of the Western Balkans, with the head of the Albanian government and the head of Montenegro. This meeting is a proof of our support for Ukraine by the Prime Ministers and the peoples of their countries, for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. We agreed that a tactical response against Russian aggression should be a more intensified and faster support to Ukraine, especially in armaments. The seventh package of sanctions against Russia should be even stronger. In the EU we have to overcome divisions. Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia must become full members of the EU. Our countries are not rivals in this journey,” Zelensky said.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic has called for an end to the war in Ukraine, while expressing his country’s support for the reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of Russian aggression.

“Stop the war, everything else is less important. We must find a way to stop the mass destruction, the killing of people. You will have full support for the reconstruction. We are small countries, but you have our support, we will give our contribution. We hope that this visit, this summit of 3 prime ministers from the Western Balkans, is a strong message for EU countries, for EU partners who have real opportunities to do more than us. We must be at the same wavelength. What you have done so far is incredible,” he said.

During this visit to Ukraine, Rama and Abazovic also visited the bombed areas of Borodyanka and Irpin. Rama and Abazovic left for Kiev last night, as this is the first visit of the head of the Albanian government to Ukraine, since the start of the war. Albania has expressed its support for Ukraine, while joining EU sanctions against Russia.

/Klara Ruci/