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Ponta and Rama on Putin's parallel between Kosovo and Crimea: Fundamental differences exist
Prime Minister Victor Ponta and his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama on Tuesday declared that there is no similarity between the situations in Kosovo and Crimea; they were answering a question on their support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration on a parallel between Crimea and Kosovo.
'No, we do not support it. I think there are fundamental differences, and I think that it is extremely important to have a very clear position of all the European Union countries on what is, indisputably, a crisis at European level, which can draw us back to the past, to a cold war. So things are not similar, and from our point of view, I think we should support Ukraine, [the Republic of] Moldova, and Georgia along their democratic path toward European integration,' Ponta said at a joint press conference with Rama after their official meeting at the Albanian Government.
Ponta added that Romania's point of view is that 'the Western Balkans region will be safe and prosperous only when all the countries in the region will be members of the European Union.'
On the other hand, the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that the position of his Romanian counterpart 'as well as the response of the whole democratic world and of Albania, too, on the concerned country and situation is unequivocal.'
'The parallel is completely unfounded. On the contrary, the Russian intervention is against the course of history,' Rama added.
Romania gov't thinks Serbia, Kosovo as EU members represents best solution
The final position of Romania with respect to Kosovo will have to be decided by co-working among the president, Parliament and Government, with the Bucharest executive's position being that Serbia and Kosovo as being European Union members represents the best solution, visiting Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta told a joint news conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Tuesday, at the end of their official talks.
'We discussed Kosovo topic. As Prime Minister Rama knows, it is a topic that stirs controversy in Romania. Romania's final position will have to be set by co-working among the president, Parliament and Government. I can speak on behalf of the Government, I have to say the Government, on all occasions, has supported the development of Kosovo institutions and from the viewpoint of the Government of Romania, Serbia and Kosovo as members of the European Union will, in fact, represent the best solution. And, in fact, this is a future for the entire region', the Romanian prime minister stressed.
Rama, in turn, on behalf of the Albanian people thanked the Romanian Government and Prime Minister Ponta for the stand on Kosovo.
Romania backs Albania gaining EU candidate status in June
Visiting Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Tuesday the Romanian Government backs Albania gaining the status of a candidate to the European Union accession in June.
'Romania has been a European Union member for seven years and our position has been constant, we back all countries in this region to be integrated into the European Union', Ponta said at the end of a meeting with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama.
He admitted there are European countries saying Albania is not yet fully ready to join the bloc, but he stressed such a thing had been said about Romania for a long time.
'Romania believes Albania, with a clear status, with a very clear timeframe, with very clear objectives can and must become a European Union member as soon as possible', Ponta said.
The Romanian prime minister added he had discussed with the Albanian premier about the manner that Romania may concretely support this effort of Albania.