“This country betrayed Hashim Thaçi,” Rama says from the U.S.: It did not do its best for Kosovo’s George Washington

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama attended a gala evening organized by the Council for Albanian-American Relations in New York. During his speech, Rama spoke about Albanian-American friendship, calling it a special and lasting relationship. Rama also spoke about former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi, who on September 16 was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the Special Court in The Hague. Rama said former U.S. President Joe Biden had betrayed Hashim Thaçi, describing him as a historic figure for Kosovo and criticizing how he was treated by international allies.

Quote 1: “I want to express the pleasure of sharing this moment tonight with you, with friends, with progress. I apologize to anyone who might feel overlooked, but I want to say that the best thing happening today is that I stand beside the godfather of the Albanian community…”

Quote 2: “It also pains me to miss someone who has always been here — he is Hashim Thaçi. He is not here today because this country betrayed him. Biden betrayed him, because even General Clark did his best. This country did not do its best for Thaçi, for Kosovo’s George Washington.”

Quote 3: “No one should misunderstand me, because when I say ‘betrayed’ I mean that we are very small, and together we are not big. But we have always celebrated, and we celebrate, the fact that as Albanians we are friends with the greatest and the strongest, with the United States of America. So I say I feel betrayed because I am certain this country could have done more. First and foremost, by not allowing this farce to begin.”