Skopje, 9 January 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani said Monday that tomorrow’s meeting of Albanian PM Edi Rama with the leaders of the Albanian parties from North Macedonia is a new year’s meeting aimed at exchanging opinions on current regional issues and wishing success in the upcoming year, and urged people not to create a “conspiracy” regarding the meeting.

“According to my information, the meeting in Tirana is a new year’s meeting on the occasion of the beginning of 2023, aimed at exchanging opinions regarding current regional issues, expectations for the new year and wishing for better cooperation. Obviously, 2023 will be a challenging year for the region. After all, we find ourselves in a year during which there is a war in Europe and numerous regional issues, both countries share common aspirations regarding EU accession negotiations,” said Osmani in answer to a journalist’s question.

According to Osmani, there is no set agenda for the meeting and it will represent an opportunity for communication and an exchange of ideas, information and opinions for the good of the region and for the good of North Macedonia and Albania.

“I can only say that the Albanian Prime Minister is a proven friend of North Macedonia, he has particularly demonstrated this during the years and months of our negotiations with Bulgaria, when he shared North Macedonia’s positions, sometimes even at the cost of Albania’s interests. I really don’t think that we should give rise to any conspiracies regarding these meetings,” said Osmani.

Regarding the invited leaders’ positions on whether to participate or not, Osmani said that all limits are being crossed and it seems that there is no focus on the interests of the country, only on party and political interests.

“I understand that the political parties have an interest in using and exploiting every situation for political gain, but this is crossing all limits and it demonstrates that some politicians no longer focus on the honest interests of the country but only on their party and political interests. The politicians should explain themselves before their voters and the public, because I believe that this is turning into a lack of honesty in regards to their actions,” said Osmani.

According to reports, for the informal meeting in Tirana Rama sent invites to DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, Alliance for Albanians leader Arben Taravari, Besa leader Bilall Kasami, Alternativa leader Afrim Gashi and DPA leader Menduh Thaçi.

Alternativa, Alliance for Albanians and Besa told MIA that they have received an invitation for the meeting.

“As we have accepted all invitations for meetings in the past, we will accept this time as well, and confirm our presence at the meeting held by PM Edi Rama,” the Alliance for Albanians told MIA.

Alternativa confirmed that their party leader Afrim Gashi will attend the meeting, but said they don’t know what the topic of discussion will be.

Besa also confirmed that they have received an invitation from the Albanian PM and that they responded positively to it. However, according to Besa spokesperson Faruk Avdiu, although the party does not doubt the honest intentions of Rama, they are still concerned that Ali Ahmeti might exploit the meeting for personal gain, since, according to Avdiu “whenever he has an issue, he exploits events like these.” ad/sk/