Albanian Daily News had a conversation with its seasoned and dedicated reader and contributor, Ambassador of Croatia to Albania Zlatko Kramaric, focusing on the final touches of the new EU administration and the tight "race" of every member country to have its politicians and experts in leading positions. Among many known and 'unknown' dilemmas of the new EU administration the discussion touched upon Croatia's readiness to help Albania in the just-started accession talks with Brussels, ongoing Russian occupation of Ukraine and Putin's s ambitions to create 'Great Russia' an example followed by its ally Serbia with 'Serbian world', enlargement and the last topic: Presidential elections in the US and expected implications on Europe.

According to the Ambassador, the Western Balkans is very much in the focus of all Croatian political strategies. "You may have already noticed that the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia here in Tirana insists on our sensitivity to all initiatives (from the mini-Schengen, Open Balkan, Berlin Process...) relating to this European region."

Asked about the start of the first chapter of the accession talks with EU, Mr. Kramaric said Croatia is fully prepared to assist Albania in the accession process. He revealed that Croatian experts from various fields have been in Albania on several occasions and that agreements have been reached to continue this cooperation.

Asked if he saw Albania a EU member in 2030, the Croatia Ambassador said that much depends on Albania, on its willingness to fully commit to that goal, fulfil its obligations, and consistently implement the reform agenda. It is also essential how all this is presented to the Albanian public, which is entirely pro-European.

Regarding his expectations of a change of approach of the new US administration/president towards the EU after November 5, Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric said in conclusion of the interview: "Regardless of how the American elections turn out, I do not expect any dramatic change in U.S. foreign policy. That is, there is no easy way out of the current framework (war in Ukraine, conflict in Gaza…). I believe that any American administration, old or new, is aware of its responsibility for global peace and stability."

Albanian Daily News: The process of the formation of the "new cabinet" in Brussels seems to be over although debates go on. Is Croatia pleased with the portfolios she got? According to you, could/deserved Croatia to cover more fields lacking no expertise?

Croatia Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: To the best of my knowledge, Croatia is satisfied with this portfolio distribution in the new European government. Our commissioner, Dubravka Suica, remains responsible for demographic issues (at the moment, alongside climate change, immigration issues, and energy, probably the most important topic in the EU—Europe is aging, with almost all EU countries recording a drastic population decline, a problem felt most acutely among 'small nations', and some projections are even apocalyptic). Moreover, she will also address the Mediterranean topic (not only the European part but also non-European Mediterranean countries, such as Morocco, Algeria…), which only shows that within the EU there is a slowly but surely maturing political awareness that, if it truly wants to be a global player, a relevant geopolitical factor, then the EU must extend its field of action beyond Europe.

As for whether something more could have been obtained, I wouldn’t want to speculate because I don't have enough relevant information about the negotiation process.

- Does Croatia have a platform of her future role in the EU and secondly will her attention increase for W. Balkans as main EU member in the region?

- There is no doubt that the Western Balkans is very much in the focus of all Croatian political strategies. You may have already noticed that the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia here in Tirana insists on our sensitivity to all initiatives (from the mini-Schengen, Open Balkan, Berlin Process...) relating to this European region. Our focus is entirely understandable because three out of the six Western Balkan countries—Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro—are our closest neighbours. Therefore, it’s understandable that we closely monitor all political processes in these countries. The political elites in these countries publicly declare their readiness to eventually become full EU members. Such stances should not only be welcomed but also strongly supported. But we are also aware that, alongside these admirable aspirations, there are several very serious political processes in these countries that indicate a political reality seriously at odds with European policies and values. And it is precisely Croatia’s duty to point out these occurrences, which are not marginal at all and should not be ignored. (We’re not certain that some other EU members fully understand all these anti-European phenomena in these countries, or we get the impression they tolerate them in the name of some 'higher interests'. We are convinced that this approach is wrong and does not yield desirable results). Ultimately, it should be clear to everyone that only political and economic stability, as well as a consistent EU policy in our neighborhood, guarantee a stable development of Croatian society.

- Albania has already started the first chapter of the accession talks. Will Zagreb experts help us in the process with their successful experience leading to join the block more than a decade ago?

- Croatia is fully prepared to assist Albania in the accession process. This is something that is assumed. Our experiences in this process are valuable, and it will be our great pleasure to share them with anyone who might need them to significantly ease (and speed up) the negotiation process. I am not sure if the Albanian public knows that Croatian experts from certain fields have been in Albania on several occasions and that agreements have been reached to continue this cooperation. This is a very important detail in our political and other relations, as it lays a solid foundation for expanding our bilateral relations in all aspects of political, economic, cultural, and sports life. In many areas (energy, tourism, agriculture, transport connectivity...), we are simply dependent on each other, and this element must always be kept in mind!

- Much talk formally and informally goes around about the military wing of the EU. Croatia fought a war not long ago successfully against former Yugoslavia. As a commander in front line do you think the EU should make more efforts to upgrade her military arsenal and armaments and experience of her troops?

- There is no doubt that it is high time the EU changed some elements of its political paradigm. All those noble ideas that led to the creation of the EU seventy years ago as a logical response to the tragic events of World War II have, in the meantime, been exhausted. The EU’s responses to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of communism, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany, and the creation of new states in Central and Eastern Europe were not always adequate, nor were they up to the historical moment… A lack of understanding of all these processes has led to the resurgence of Russian imperialism, military intervention first in Georgia, then the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and finally, in February 2022, military intervention and aggression in Ukraine. This act alone should serve as a wake-up call that something in the EU's military strategy needs to change.

If your readers recall, I suggested in an interview with ADN that it would be advisable to reconsider the old idea of the need to create a common EU army! We must be aware that time is not our ally, and in politics, it is very important to act today because tomorrow may already be too late!

- Let me be straightforward: Do you see Albania an EU member in 2030 as its leaders are propagating?

- The wishes of your political elites are personally sympathetic to me, and I would like to see their desires and projections come true. But I think they are also aware that reality is much harsher than our desires. Of course, much depends on Albania, on its willingness to fully commit to that goal, fulfil its obligations, and consistently implement the reform agenda. It is also essential how all this is presented to the Albanian public, which is entirely pro-European. Certainly, some of these reforms will be painful, but ultimately, they ensure a better life for Albanian citizens. And it must be clearly stated that these reforms are not some EU-bureaucratic whims; rather, they are essential prerequisites for a stable development of Albanian society. Without these reforms, we cannot speak of modernizing or democratizing Albanian society; without these reforms, there will be no independent institutions, separation of powers, or legal security.

-It seems as if the EU is eager to 'welcome' all the maverick countries which are divided between Russia and the West. Do you think that even in the long run an enlargement of such dimensions is possible and 'healthy' for the block? What will Russia do- more aggressive or cooperation?

- We live in times when it is almost impossible to predict anything. Let’s be honest and ask ourselves who, in the late '80s, expected the definitive collapse of communism? Even the world-famous gymnast Nadia Comaneci fled Romania just three weeks before the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu. Although the famous gymnast may not have been informed about the recent political situation in her country, it is more than indicative that even well-informed diplomatic and other sources in powerful Western countries were caught off guard by all these events. This was evident after the archives were opened, showing their astonishment at these political processes, which were apparently unpredictable—overnight, once-hated dissidents (like V. Havel, F. Tudjman...) became heads of state.

Naturally, I would like the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible, that peace talks begin, and that the outcomes of these talks are as just as possible.

- Let me touch about the war in Ukraine. There are much critical voices claiming Zelenskyy pushed Putin towards aggression?

- The expansion of the EU to include countries like Ukraine, Moldova should be a (belated) compensation for insufficient actions in the recent past, an effort to correct wrong assessments. Of course, we would like Russia to participate actively and constructively in these processes, as I doubt Russian citizens are thrilled that their youth are dying en masse in Ukraine, and recently, the war operations have even shifted to Russian territory, where Russian civilians are also dying. Ultimately, all wars end with peace negotiations, and this war will end the same way!

As far as I recall, Vladimir Putin announced everything we are experiencing today in his 'famous' speech in Munich in 2007. It seems that the European politicians of the time not only did not listen carefully to his speech but also demonstrated that irresponsibility is not foreign to them. Once again, it is shown that timing is crucial in politics—everything missed at the right time will later come back like a boomerang. I feel that today’s European politics behaves much like European politicians did in the 1930s—they also failed to understand Hitler's intentions in time. And when they finally did, it was already too late! True, it remains unclear why the Minsk agreements were not implemented, but this does not diminish Russia’s/Putin’s responsibility for the aggression!

In one of my 'liberal gatherings'/conversations with Klaus Kinkel, former German foreign minister and former leader of the German Liberals, I learned to avoid forecasting election results. Moreover, Mr. Kinkel told me that betting on election outcomes could be compared to people who are not into pig farming estimating the weight of a pig. And, of course, they always get it wrong! Regardless of how the American elections turn out, I do not expect any dramatic changes in U.S. foreign policy. That is, there is no easy way out of the current framework (war in Ukraine, conflict in Gaza…). I believe that any American administration, old or new, is aware of its responsibility for global peace and stability. After all, the bell from Hemingway’s famous line rings for all of us. / ADN