YouSaid · the spoken record

Edi Rama

lines on the record: 97
first: 2013-09-24
most recent: 2022-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Only a few months ago, two Albanian soldiers serving in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia lost their lives in the line of duty while dismantling explosives. Albania proudly remembers them today, at the world’s largest gathering of nations. Their martyrdom is a universal reminder of the noblest of causes, the protection of freedom and security and the provision of security to maintain freedom. Despite that tragic loss, which cut deeply and has left a void in our souls, Albania is still firmly willing and ready to take up new responsibilities in Iraq in support of that country’s efforts to achieve stability. Even after the triumph of the defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant was declared, every country in the Assembly should be aware of the risks that come with post-caliphate metamorphosis.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Not only is that true of action on climate change, it is certainly also true of the other great concern that we all share in today’s world — security. An experienced army general once said that there are two types of countries in the world — small countries, and countries that are not aware that ultimately they too are small. Albania might be a small country from a global perspective, but it is aware of its global responsibility. During Albania’s decade of NATO membership, and regardless of the vast challenges we have faced, we have deployed troops to Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Mali and Afghanistan in order to make our mark in a world that should be safer and in hopes of a brighter future.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In addition, we have adopted a national climate change strategy, a mitigation action plan for greenhouse-gas emissions and a national climate-change adaptation plan, making Albania the first and so far the only country in the Western Balkans with a consolidated strategy on climate change. We have undertaken many other initiatives to keep our skies blue and make our future horizon greener. New energy-efficiency standards in construction, a forthcoming ban on non-degradable plastic bags, a moratorium on hunting and logging and a growing tree-planting campaign are only a part of our ambition to make Albania a leading example for the green agenda. Those endeavours also serve as a reminder that climate action requires daily commitment.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“However, while that may be the case with earthquakes, it is certainly not the case with regard to climate change, whose destructive effects can be tackled in advance in a number of ways. Needless to say, no country on Earth is immune to nature’s distorted hostilities or strong enough to cope with them alone. I am therefore pleased to be able to inform the Assembly that Albania has been working hard to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 45 per cent in the next decade and achieving net- zero emissions by 2050, in accordance with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The range of issues clearly requires not just the mobilization of national capacities but much more efficient interaction at the transnational level. Last Friday I had to interrupt my flight to New York after landing in Frankfurt, because Albania had been struck by a powerful earthquake. My country was severely damaged, but no lives were lost, thank God. As if that were not enough, just before the aftershocks subsided, we were assailed by a storm and a torrential downpour that made the situation even more horrible for our vulnerable citizens. Science has progressed a great deal, and whether for good or bad goes well beyond the scope of this discussion, but it has not progressed to the point of being able to predict the arrival of earthquakes.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Willy-nilly, we find ourselves in a context in which the distinction between national interests and global priorities is largely blurred if not entirely erased. We live in a world in which, alongside its increasing opportunities, new threats are emerging on the horizon and new risks coming to the fore. Even worse, many of those threats and risks, however clearly they are expressed, do not usually meet with the right response. We live under an ozone layer that is thinning and in a climate that is melting icebergs. While security mechanisms are increasingly sophisticated and intelligence mechanisms have been improved, illegal migration, radicalization, extremism, organized crime and human smuggling have challenged not merely our security environment but the quality of our democracy.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Many years after the end of history was announced and vast enthusiasm for globalism prevailed, we have been through the worst economic recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s, experienced a rise in violent extremism and terrorism that began on 11 September 2001, when Al-Qaida killed nearly 3,000 innocent people, and been exposed to climate change, whose effects are felt in the air we breathe in the twenty-first century. While globalism can be criticized or endorsed, that does not actually matter in the end. What matters is that it exists. Nationalism might sound like an attractive alternative at times, and it can sometimes seem so, especially nowadays. But the range of issues that we face together is essentially transnational.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Over the more than seven decades since this rostrum was raised to bear the weight of the entire world’s concerns, and the more than half century since the gloomy past of the Cold War began, we have heard in this Hall bright promises of democratic reconstruction — such as in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall — and of caring for people in need, as was the case with the Kosovo Albanians facing genocide in the late 1990s. Yet even here, in the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session, this Hall has once again been witness to a dozen complaining voices, various diverging world views and a substantial number of predictions of looming threats.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development points the way towards a better future, the future we want and the future that our children deserve. We cannot and must not fail to deliver on that promise. Albania stands ready to do its part and cooperate with all those willing to invest in the future and make our world a better place for all.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We have said it before and we will say it again: recognizing Kosovo, establishing relations and helping Kosovo move forward, which is something that 114 Member States have done so far, constitute a direct contribution to bettering the lives of Kosovo’s citizens and investing in the security and stability of the whole region and all of its countries, including Serbia. Let me conclude by highlighting the need for the United Nations to change in order to remain relevant, live up to its responsibilities, secure the promise of sustainable development, ensure human rights and guarantee peace and security for future generations. We are aware that such reform is about what we can and must do together in order to better support our common efforts in transforming lives.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Every credible report on the current situation in the Western Balkans would undoubtedly lead to the same conclusion — today the Western Balkans is far better off than it was three or five years ago, let alone 10. Kosovo’s independence has not unleashed any dark forces. On the contrary, it has brought stability to the entire region. For several years, Serbia and Kosovo have been engaged in serious dialogue on the normalization of their relations, with the mediation and facilitation of the European Union. After centuries of mistrust, a climate of trust and regional cooperation for both countries is a growing reality. That serves as an even greater reason to remind those countries that have not yet recognized Kosovo to consider doing so as soon as possible. That should not be seen as defiance or a loss, as it is often wrongly portrayed.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Many have used the Assembly over the past years to express worries and fear that Kosovo’s independence would unleash dark forces that no one would be able to control. We have seen nothing of the sort. Instead, what has really happened it that Albanians in Kosovo and Albania, as well as Serbs, once threatened with extermination by a brutal regime, are now free citizens living in democratic countries and contributing to further developing an open society. Who can deny the impressive achievements made by Kosovo in less than a decade of independence? They include the consolidation of its democratic institutions, good governance, exemplary multi-ethnic and interreligious coexistence and evident progress in the Euro-Atlantic integration process.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“As President Junker stated just a few weeks ago in his address on the state of the European Union, there is need for a credible enlargement perspective so that the Western Balkans can attain more stability in the EU. Revitalizing the enlargement policy will be the best deterrent to the disintegration narrative that is fuelled by populist ideas. It is my firm belief that as much as we need the European Union, the European Union needs a stronger, more developed and coherent Western Balkans. We are well aware of that. And practice has shown that in order to build a fully functioning region, all of its members must be treated the same way. That is why we think that the admission of Kosovo to every regional body, with the same rights as other countries, is of paramount significance.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I do not have the slightest doubt that it will help us to protect and promote everyone’s national interests, respect the rights of minorities, strengthen good neighbourly relations and move our countries and the region as a whole towards the European Union. Strong and healthy relations with the European Union have proved key to stability and reform progress in the Balkans. We have noticed that when the EU is overly preoccupied with itself, that bond is fragile and insecure. That is why this important relationship should be continually nurtured and strengthened, because it also facilitates regional cooperation, increased understanding and work towards reconciliation in the best European tradition and record.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“There were times in the past when we would come here and spend time and energy competing with some of our neighbours on how to belittle each other, telling our one-sided stories and trying to convince the world of our specific narratives. Hopefully, that is long gone. The best proof of the profound change in the Western Balkans lies in our joint efforts, with a shared sense of responsibility and a common purpose to make the region a natural part of Europe. Together with the European Union, and based on its principles and policies, we are working to bring down every barrier to free trade by encouraging transnational economies. A new and vibrant regional economic area, which we agreed on in July in Trieste, will boost trade and benefit our economies.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“It has proved so in the past and remains the right bet for the future. A couple of months ago, at the general elections, I was re-elected as Head of Government by the citizens of Albania. They have agreed with our plans for the Albania we want. Expectations are high, and so is our resolve to meet them. Our target is to ensure a sustainable economic growth of 5 per cent during my current mandate. That brings me to one of my favourite subjects — the development of regional cooperation and the transformation of the Western Balkans into an area of free movement for people, goods, capitals and ideas, benefiting everyone in the region. That remains one of the main pillars of our foreign policy.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“For us, European integration lies at the heart of our overall development, since it touches every cell of our development architecture. We are resolved to deliver on the fundamentals that consolidate the pillars of a democratic State, a functioning economy and a Government that works for its citizens. We want to measure our progress with results, and the very thorough justice reform we are implementing is a shining example of that. In turn, we expect our EU partners to do their part and to clear the way towards finally opening accession talks. It will be a historic milestone, but also a strong encouragement for us to continue on the same path. We hope that the European Union, despite the current crisis, continues to believe that the enlargement process remains the best European catalyst for security, peace, development and prosperity.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“They bring leadership skills, strength of character, commitment to our European values and special devotion to serving the Albanian people. Furthermore, women count for approximately 30 per cent of the members of our Parliament and more than 45 per cent of our public administration. Those may sound like mere statistics, but they rather reflect a platform that ensures that the role of women in development and change is recognized, their rightful place in the society is secured and their voice is heard. It is my deep belief that the empowerment of women serves as a powerful driver of overall economic development and national prosperity. One of the main national priorities for my country is to join the European Union. It is not just one of our foreign policy objectives and is not a contractual relation of sorts.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“They want to be treated with dignity and know that their lives matter, regardless of gender, race, national or social origin, religious belief, political affiliation, property, birth or any other status. To achieve those goals, we need to go beyond declaratory undertakings. People rightly demand us to show responsibility and an ability to act. The pledge to leave no one behind is the central theme of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Albania is fully committed to protecting and promoting all human rights, particularly women’s rights, which is another major battle for change that my Government is leading. I am proud to announce that, for the second time in a row in Albanian history, half of the members of my Government are women.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Albania was among the first countries to join the Global Coalition in the fight against ISIS and international terrorism. We are now implementing a three-year action plan as an instrument for implementing our national strategy on countering violent extremism. We welcome the increased attention that has been given to the role of regional organizations in security issues. In that respect, we greatly appreciate and welcome the close cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union (EU) on the Common Security and Defence Policy platform. All over the world, people want to be safe and free from violence, oppression, persecution and fear.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“As the leader of a small nation, I hereby reiterate our pledge that we will faithfully do our part. The increase in violent extremism and the number of non-State armed groups perpetrating atrocities, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities, continue to represent one of our most pressing challenges. The decisive action taken by the international coalition has paid off. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) has lost almost 90 per cent of the territory it once controlled, and its ability to wage war has been severely diminished. Yet let us make no mistake; its defeat on the ground does not mean that it will disappear. Our response to the extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism must continue and adapt to the nature of that persistent threat itself.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Worse, the situation in North-East Asia, a prolonged and recently exacerbated crisis sparked by the policy of a stubborn and paranoid totalitarian regime, has brought back the dreadful fear of nuclear confrontation. Inequality has continued to grow, while, in contrast, the world becomes wealthier, which casts serious doubt on the validity of promises and guarantees of positive results for the benefit of all so often advocated for from this very rostrum. No country, however large, rich or powerful, can face or solve such problems alone. The challenges require a unified vision and a concerted response. In an increasingly globalized world, our visions and actions should be inclusive and universal and bring people, communities and countries together.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Climate change, a defiant truth that some still dare to question, is putting our very survival at risk. It constitutes one the most fundamental challenges for our century, as it continues to cause growing humanitarian stress. Disasters are becoming more frequent and intense, and one example, the current hurricane season in the Atlantic, reminds us that nature will always have the upper hand unless we become aware of the need to quickly adapt our way of life and protect our planet, our lives and those of our children. The international global order has been seriously challenged without anything credible or promising to replace it.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“They have become a persistent threat, with the ability to strike everywhere, indiscriminately and with far-reaching consequences, as we have sadly witnessed so many times, including in the recent past. Several brutal and seemingly intractable conflicts continue to devastate the lives of millions of people, thereby threatening the future of entire generations. Armed conflicts are nowadays more complex, the actors involved more numerous, the weapons and tactics more sophisticated and the consequences, which continue to inflict endless human suffering, more dire. The approximately 65 million people, the highest number since the Second World War, who have been forcefully and brutally uprooted from their homes constitute an indictment of our collective failure.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“How many times has it happened that humankind has been confronted with as many complex challenges in such a relatively short time as is the case nowadays? Has there ever been another period in what we call modern times when we have had to deal with so many pressing issues at once? When was the last time we remember that we were all confronted with such a conflicting prospect — on the one hand, of an inspiring world that grows richer by the hour, driven by the tremendous progress of science and technology, and on the other of a planet that seems to have lost its way, its energy and its vision and to be spiralling erratically downwards? There are no simple answers to complex questions. Yet facts are stubborn, and in many respects reality looks grim. Global terrorism and extremism continue to threaten our values and our way of life.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The hearts and minds of our young people represent the best insurance for a better future. If we show them the right path, they will take it. Let us also try to be a better team and demonstrate, first and foremost, that we — men and women, individuals and peoples — are joined together by our common humanity and must work together to build a common and sustainable future for all, no matter the place, no matter the language, no matter the colour and no matter the religion.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“At a time of tragic events, with the sounds of war around him, Winston Churchill noted: “Words are the only things that last forever.” Let us all depict in words in our school curricula these values and principles of tolerance and respect for the diversity of faiths, identities, cultures, histories and beliefs, thereby recognizing the common humanity that we all share. Obviously, global principles and values of tolerance, written in black on the white paper of a global charter, cannot wipe out violent extremism, hatred, stereotypes, discrimination and the scars they have caused. Yet these values, when they are put into words and taught in our schools, can bridge differences and inspire hearts and minds to take common action and usher in a better future for our world.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Every day I still like to pick up a pencil or a pen or a paintbrush, even for a few minutes, and draw, doodle or paint. All of us are trying to paint our own big picture in our different ways, to set out a clear vision and to work towards it. If the world were a painting, today it would probably be more grey than black or white. There are few certainties. And many splashes of glaring and harsh colours would warn us of the many dangers and threats we face. But here in this place, there are values and principles that we can apply to all the challenges in the world, and we need them now more than ever.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Albania is eager to be part of the global team that will meet this December in Paris to decide on measures to protect the environment in line with the objectives of sustainable development and the purposes to be served by the intended nationally determined contributions. This unprecedented event will be effective if we act as a great team and all play their parts. Yet, in an era beset by enormous challenges like climate change, violent extremism, poverty, inequality, corruption and illicit trafficking, first and foremost let us ensure the future by teaching young people the values of tolerance, respect 20/45 15-29816 02/10/2015 A/70/PV.25 and understanding no matter the place, the language, the colour or the religion. I was an artist before being elected to political office.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In developing the Sustainable Development Goals, it has taken into account their hopes and expectations. As we affirm our pledge to achieve these Goals, let us focus our attention on the young. Let us — countries large and small — come together to begin the process of developing a global charter that puts the education of our young and our determination to give them a better future at its heart. We are going to introduce a reform in Albania that will include in the school curriculum such a charter of values. We have also been working hard to make progress on important reforms in a number of areas, including education, public administration, energy, economic development, justice and the fight against crime.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Moreover, last year I made the first visit of an Albanian Prime Minister to Belgrade in 68 years. And since the Western Balkans Summit, held in Vienna in August, our region has been successfully collaborating in a number of areas, including youth exchanges promoted by Albania and Serbia and inspired by the model of youth exchanges between France and Germany after the Second World War. We are focusing on this in particular because it is crucial for our young people to be aware of what history has taught us: that it is better to celebrate our differences than to fight over them and to learn from our past than to live in it, no matter the place, no matter the language, no matter the colour and no matter the religion. In an unprecedented approach, the United Nations has engaged in conversation with hundreds and thousands of young people.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“After a century scarred by conflict, we have finally seen a year of cooperation aimed at making the peace we have achieved a peace worth living. The talks between Serbia and Kosovo, a new State contributing to stability in the region, have enabled the two countries to find common solutions to a series of issues, for the good of their peoples. And here I would like to call on all those in this Hall that have not yet recognized Kosovo to do so, and by so doing to make a straightforward contribution to strengthening stability, peace and cooperation in a region that last year became a significant success story, a region in which hopes and dreams for the future are prevailing over the fears and nightmares of the past. Full recognition of Kosovo by every nation in this Assembly will be good for Serbia as well.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We are rightly proud of that heritage; of coexisting as fraternal communities at a time when religious extremism, violence and terrorism are causing unspeakable suffering — violence and extremism that have put multitudes of people on the move in scenes reminiscent of the exodus of biblical times, with children, women and men arriving in their thousands on our doorsteps in the Balkans as they seek safety and protection in Europe. As everyone here probably knows, ethnically motivated conflicts and violence are by no means unknown to us in the Balkans. Today, however, we as a region can finally dare to look ahead with hope and show that another way forward is possible. Last year, for the first time after 100 years of frozen or live conflicts and confrontation in the Balkans, no guns were pointed at anyone’s window.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“One year ago, Pope Francis began his visits around Europe in Albania. Last week, we saw here in America the hope and joy he could bring to the richest and most powerful country in the world. Imagine the joy he brought to us, not least by the praise he bestowed on Albania in saying that we were proof that a peaceful and fruitful coexistence between persons and communities of believers of different religions is not only desirable, but possible and realistic.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“I ran for office on the theme of renaissance, but we all know that words spoken while campaigning are the easy part. What is hard is turning those words into deeds, actions, policies and projects that deliver change. I am confident, but I am humble enough to know I cannot do it alone. I have much to learn, and the United Nations is one of those places where one always finds people, individuals, groups and Governments who can teach with experience and lead by example. We need support. We need partners and friends willing to be part of our journey for change. Renaissance means a new Albania. Building the renaissance is the challenge we face. It will take time. It will take perseverance. It will take the understanding and support of partners and friends. It will also take leadership, which I am committed to. But I know it can be done.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The recent large-scale use of chemical weapons constitutes a despicable crime against humanity that should not and must not remain unpunished. Yet even within such a bleak picture, there has been a glimpse of hope. Yesterday, the Security Council finally adopted resolution 2118 (2013), on the removal and destruction of chemical weapons in Syria, which we welcome. It must now be quickly and fully implemented. As I walked to this rostrum, I felt the extraordinary sense of responsibility that the leadership of a country implies. I felt the power of the historic forces pulsating in this building. I felt the new world it has shaped, the challenges it has met, the challenges it has failed to meet and the challenges we, the family of nations, struggle to meet today in this ever more interdependent and complicated world.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“This is a very serious commitment, and I would like to state here that it is our firm intention to explore every possibility to initiate a constructive debate, develop a real dialogue and foster close cooperation in every possible aspect with each and every country of the region, including, notably, Serbia. Let the Balkans, which have been known so long for war and bloodshed, now be known for changing its ways and thereby change the world for the better. I wish that, in this statement of hope, I could avoid having to speak about one of the most terrible human tragedies of our times, which has been unfolding before our eyes for two and a half years now. It has taken more than 100,000 human lives. It is destroying an entire generation and has brought a country to ruin.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I have no doubt that, provided that each and every country of the region replaces the politics of division with the politics of cooperation, and provided that we build shared values, beliefs and policies instead of clinging to ancient enmities, we can show how much we have changed and how quickly we can make the further changes needed to take our place alongside others in the modern European family of nations. It will undoubtedly take time and perseverance. It will take the understanding and support of European Union member States. It will take leadership on the part of us all, and as past practice and successful examples show, it can be done.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“To those who are sceptical, I say that the people of Kosovo, like all the other peoples that now enjoy fully recognized, independent republics following the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, deserve the recognition of their sovereignty, particularly as they have demonstrated, more than any other people in the region, their indisputable commitment to human rights, minority rights, dialogue and peace. Without this commitment, it would be very difficult for our region to make progress towards integration into the European Union. But their commitment is obvious and firm, and the region has been making remarkable progress towards its most important goal — integration into the European Union. Croatia has joined the European Union. We are waiting in the queue, as are Serbia and Kosovo.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In this regard, Albania is committed to peace and prosperity in the region. This is why it is committed to the irreversible independence of Kosovo, which is already recognized by 104 Member States. This is why it calls upon all countries that have not yet recognized Kosovo to do so. They will not only help Kosovo and its people, but they will join those who, by recognizing Kosovo, have played an important role in strengthening security and stability in South-East Europe.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Their dialogue, which was an act of courage and wisdom on the part of both Kosovo and Serbia, with much-appreciated facilitation by the European Union, challenges every country of the region to mobilize its efforts in new and innovative forms of collaboration and cooperation. Not everything is easy or perfect. There are still a few here and there who continue to think in the past. But the prevailing truth is that Prime Ministers Thaçi and Da.i. have shouldered their leadership responsibility to bring their countries into the future they both deserve. More than anything, in a world interconnected and interdependent like never before, where space and relationships are related and recreated in continuity, it is crucial to live in the new time without prolonging the old one of conflicts and nationalism.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Consequently, we should create new momentum in regional cooperation by effectively combining the objectives of the South East Europe 2020 strategy with the projects of the Europe 2020 agenda. We should not forget that successful regional cooperation has a direct effect on meeting economic accession criteria. Undoubtedly, meeting such criteria through intense and fruitful regional cooperation is neither an easy nor a simple task. My vision for Albania is also a vision of the Balkans working together, in defiance of our history of so much war and conflict, although — let us say it loudly and proudly — these are past wars and past conflicts. I want to share my conviction that the remarkable agreement between Kosovo and Serbia launched a new era in South-East Europe.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“If the EU has turned its attention towards our region, particularly due to past conflicts, together we — Albanians, Serbs, Montenegrins, Bosnians, Macedonians and all the other peoples of the region who have already joined the European Union — should maintain our eyes and our focus on the EU for projects related to our development for a better and more prosperous common future. Regional cooperation that is not grounded in strategic projects serving the economic revival of all our countries in the process of integration into the European Union as a developed economic area would be completely ineffective. We have neither the time nor the luxury to engage in time-consuming, ineffective projects. No country of the region can afford such a luxury.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In the course of a few years, delivering as one has proved to be a valuable achievement, and it represents today an avenue for deeper reform. If we want more effectiveness, better efficiency and coherent action by various United Nations actors and if we aim for better results on the ground and better value for our money, delivering as one is the way to go. We have pledged our support and will continue to do so as we are convinced that is the right path. The United Nations is beyond any doubt one of the most important world bodies. We joined it in the middle of the past century. But it is not alone; for us, the European Union (EU), which represents the most important political project the world has known to date, is another. We aspire to join it. We know the changes we have to make, and I am determined to make them.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It deters legitimate investors from investing. It holds back progress. It stops people from believing there can ever be fairness. Corruption can and must be beaten if we are to build the economic rule of law we need, get the investment we need and attract the tourism that our scenery, heritage and warm, welcoming people deserve. It will not be easy, but it can be done, and we are fully committed. The world has changed tremendously in the course of recent decades, and it is changing now at an even faster pace. We all expect the United Nations to follow suit. United Nations reform is not only necessary; it has become imperative. If we fail to agree and act on that, the role which the United Nations is to play will remain incomplete. One of the important aspects of change is the ongoing reform of the delivery of development assistance.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“For my part, I will add leadership. We have a long way to go, but it can be done. I was reading a study recently that analysed every country in the world, measuring the positive and negative media coverage. Switzerland was at the top; Albania was 161st. In truth, people around the world may not know that much about Albania, but what they think they know is not good. The film industry has not been kind to us — Wag The Dog, Taken, Taken 2. Even I was a bit scared to be in Albania after that. I hope one day Liam Neeson, Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro can visit and see what a beautiful country it is and feel the potential that I feel. But I am not naive. Our problems are not all based in Hollywood. Some are real and damaging, such as corruption, which scars countries in the way the swish of a blade can scar a beautiful face.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“I am the newly elected Prime Minister of Albania. This is my first month in office. It is truly humbling to stand at this rostrum in the steps and the shadows of some of the great figures of history who have stood here and shaped our world, in this forum, which, for all the criticisms of the United Nations, is a living reminder that good must come from bad and that the march of progress through time is powered by debate, ideas, cooperation, argument and agreement. Albania is no great Power; it is a small country, but with great potential. It has outstanding natural beauty and good and hard-working people. My challenge is to bring change so that this potential can be fulfilled. It will take time. It will take a lot of effort and perseverance. It will take understanding and support from friends and partners.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)