In an interview for 'La Stampa', Prime Minister Edi Rama clarified the discussions with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, whom he invited to spend a few days of vacation in the city of Vlora. As stated by the head of the government, the focus has been on the relationship between the two countries as well as various investments. 

Rama says that they talked about the water pipeline project from Albania to Puglia, with the aim of using resources in Albania to connect them with Italy. Another project that has been discussed is the railway network in the Balkans as well as the electric line that will connect Italy with Albania. 

Prime Minister Edi Rama was also asked about a possible meeting between the Italian Prime Minister and the former English leader, Tony Blair, as has recently been rumoured in the Albanian and neighbouring media. According to the head of the government, there was no discussion about the "nuclear power plant" and no meeting between them. 

The full interview of Prime Minister Rama for "La Stampa": 

-Security, waiters, motorboat, very private tour. Can you tell us something about the Melon festival? 

"Giorgia wanted to rest, I waited for her at the port on Monday, I didn't even get out of the car and took her to my residence. I left it there. Afterwards, we had a dinner with him and my family." 

-You, and Tony Blair too, confirm? 

"No. He wasn't there! I've seen a lot of fantasizing about this and more - like that she didn't come by ferry, but by a luxury yacht, or that she came for a nuclear power plant -, I'm sorry, but Blair left the morning of her arrival." 

-Did you take her on the Albanian beaches? 

"She hasn't moved since Monday. Just one day, by motorboat, to go to the opposite beach, in the Gulf of Vlora. And yesterday, when I took her to the city, by the sea. Many Italian tourists took selfies, shouting "great president".

-And which one?

"Albanian media and TikTok only talked about a group of Italians who escaped from a restaurant in Berat without paying. The owner turned it down. When I told Giorgia, everyone laughed. She shouted and ordered the ambassador: "Go and pay the bill for these fools, please, and make a statement! Italy cannot lose respect like this". 

-Between one coffee and another, what files are you dealing with? 

"We talked for a long time about international relations. And of European integration, which you define as reunification". 

-In economic terms, has it convinced you to make investments? 

"There are so many things we have waiting. Soon, the Strategic Committee for Italian Investments, created with Di Maio, will meet for the second time. We talked about the water pipeline project, which Andreotti and Berlusconi already wanted, from Albania to Puglia. That would be important. It is about using the resources in South Albania to connect them with Italy. Then, there is the management of the railway network in the Balkans, which must be developed. Finally, technology: major Italian companies have shown interest in the past. And the electric line project that will connect Italy with Albania. She is someone who can move things, I have a lot of faith." 

-All this harmony contradicts your political ideas: it does not belong to the family of the left. Meloni is right-wing, nationalist. What are you with? 

"Listen, right and left are pretentious categories, good for arguments. We're not in the 1900s anymore. I'm kind of a leftist, following the way of Clinton, Blair, Schroder. She is right-wing, but they said she was a fascist monster who would march on Brussels. On the contrary, from the first day she has not been wrong in the line of international politics". 

-When will you meet again? 

"If you invite me, I will come tomorrow. You will come to Tirana in October for the summit of the Berlin process. I will welcome you with open arms."