Tirana, 6 May 2022 (MIA) — Albania is being held hostage to the dispute between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, according to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in his address to the 18th Conference of Parliament Speakers of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative taking place in Tirana. According to MIA’s Tirana correspondent, Rama said there was no solution other than patience on the EU path and expressed concern about the problematic European integration process. “The process towards the EU has been neurotic,” Rama said. “Albania is a hostage of the impasse between our neighbor North Macedonia and Bulgaria. “This is one of those situations the EU can create. No book or experience can explain how to deal with this. How can we remain hostage to disputes between two countries? But it is what it is, as Donald Trump used to say. We can’t lose our patience and desire for Europe." The Albanian prime minister stressed that Europe was in every Albanian plan as the first choice his country had freely made considering "we were under the rule of various empires against our will." “Albania's goal is to promote cooperation and peace in Europe,” Rama said. “There is no alternative to Europe in our plans. We have a lot to give to the region. Problems only create divisions," he added. North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi is also taking part in the conference. mr/