Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after the Assembly of North Macedonia voted this Saturday on the French proposal with 68 votes in favor, saying that Albania's "absured hostage-taking" has ended. 

Through a long post on social networks, the Head of Government stated that the negotiations for Albania's membership in the EU do not have any obstacles. 

For three long years, Albania was used as a soccer ball in the "fields of interest of the internal politics of the member countries", added Rama. 

Furthermore, PM Rama does not fail to mention the political factors of the country, which he qualifies as, according to him, in these years, they have done their best to block the integration path of the country. 

"FINALLY... Negotiations for Albania's membership in the European Union no longer have any obstacles! The Parliament of North Macedonia has just given the green light to the latest French proposal. The absurd hostage-taking of Albania has ended. 

It took 3 gruelling years from the decision-making of the European Council to pave the way for negotiations, for the series of artificial obstacles erected in front of Albania to be completely leveled. These extraordinary challenges have put to the test not only the government, but our character as a country, as a community of people and as a governing majority, of course. 

Here we are again! As we succeeded with the earthquake and the pandemic, when almost no one believed that we would succeed, we will succeed with the new crisis brought about by the war, as well as with the negotiations that will make Albania a member of the European Union.

We got here without reducing the pace of reforms, work and change, despite the unfulfilled promises of the EU. We will succeed by increasing the pace, further improving the work and deepening the change even more. 

We have come here without being defeated by the disappointments or the minor injuries of these years. We will succeed by continuing to learn and not hesitate to correct ourselves. 

We came here with our heads held high, managing to raise Albania in the eyes of the greatest, where it has never been, valued and respected as an equal in every international relationship. But let's not forget, this is not the end of our road, but only the beginning of a new part of the road to the Albania we want", stated Rama.