Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again issued harsh warnings to protesters, threatening with criminal liability those who, according to him, have taken the capital hostage and have exercised violence in the name of students. In a reaction published on Facebook, Rama has also accused other forces of involvement in the anti-government protests, claiming that some people are playing the game of others.
The statements come at a time when students and teachers continue to protest, demanding his resignation. Despite rejecting previous invitations for dialogue, Rama has reiterated that he is ready to meet with the youth, while at the same time warning of criminal penalties for those he considers responsible for the violence. Through a video on Facebook, the head of government has once again shown the stone benches set up for dialogue, this time adding another accessory, a stilt. He has declared that he is ready to meet with the students wherever they wish, insisting that the confrontation of views must take place without violence.
But in addition to the invitation for dialogue, Rama has used harsh language towards the participants, accusing them of violent acts. The Prime Minister has claimed that the protest involved people who have exported terror and acted in the interest of others, warning that they will face the law. He has also stressed that Albania's path towards the European Union will not be stopped by what he described as the forces involved in this situation, without clarifying specifically who he was referring to.
"I am ready, wherever, in any country, again, with those who believe that Albania must be made better. And Albania becomes better with humanity, exchange, confrontation of opposing views. Violent opposition, with force, which contradicts the thread of reason, cannot be imposed on the necessity for dialogue, confrontation of views, however opposite, for democratic coexistence in a country where the past has no chance of returning.
"Whoever took the capital hostage by exporting that kind of terror here and playing the game of others here in the name of students, and putting themselves in front of the students, through a covered face, should know that they will be held accountable. They will be held accountable legally, criminally and according to the degree of the violation committed. Great misunderstanding. This is a great misunderstanding to think that you can impose yourself on an entire people, an entire people who will go to work, with the language of fire and stone. Great misunderstanding that will become a lesson, after an attempt was made to turn the Albanian path. The Albanian path will not be stopped, it will be part of the EU and the forces that are involved in this great oppression cannot stop it," said Rama.
