Rama in New York: Albania has built immunity to corruption, which once went unfought

Prime Minister Edi Rama declared in New York that Albania has undergone a deep transformation in recent years, highlighting economic growth, infrastructure development and the strengthening of institutions in the fight against corruption.

During the address he gave at the Albanian-American Relations Council’s gala evening, Rama said the country has achieved results that, in his words, not everyone accepts easily.

“How much Albania has changed over these years. Nobody forgives you success. Yes, it is the fifth or sixth year that we have the largest airport in the region. Being very large not only in relative terms — it is the fastest-growing airport in Europe — but also in absolute figures, with more passengers than Belgrade airport. It will continue, because this is only the beginning,” Rama said.

The head of government also touched on the perception of corruption in the country, arguing that European partners see as a success the fact that institutions act against it every day.

“We Albanians — what we see as a problem, our European partners see as a success. The question is: can a country have more corruption if it is fought every day? Once in Albania, corruption was everywhere and the fight nowhere. Today we see something different. We see it because Albania’s democratic system has begun to build its own immunity,” he said.

According to Rama, the functioning of independent powers, despite challenges and shortcomings, shows that corruption no longer goes unpunished.

In his speech, the prime minister also cited changes in environmental protection, recalling the hunting ban and the expansion of protected areas.

“This is a great success for a country where 10 years ago, animals and birds were massacred by thousands of European hunters. Today the country protests for biodiversity. After we banned hunting, expanded protected areas and banned the exploitation of forests, we tripled the number of birds and animals, as well as the area of recovered forests,” he said.

In closing, Rama said citizens’ expectations of the country have changed.

“Now we have a new Albania. People want more. The Albania where people lived with the idea that the country could be worse no longer exists,” the prime minister concluded.