TIRANA, June 11 – The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin has congratulated Bajram Begaj on his election as the head of the Albanian state.
Begaj was elected the new president as the candidate of the ruling Socialist Party (SP) and personally as the pick up of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The message was conveyed by the Russian embassy in Tirana. Through an official announcement on Saturday, the Russian Embassy said: “The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has conveyed congratulations to Mr. Bajram Begaj for his election as President of the Republic of Albania and wished him health and success in his highest state duty.”
It is worth noting that Vladimir Putin becomes one of the first international leaders to send Begaj congratulatory messages on the new task he is expected to take on July 24, 2022, replacing current President Ilir Meta whose 5-year mandate ends on that date.
The office of the new president has not announced this message, but neither has the press office of the ruling political force that fully supports the new head of state.
This silence of the official socialist sources but also of the media near the left is related to their fear that a media echo of this message will anger the US, Albania’s declared major strategic ally, and some EU countries because the Union is split on the question of sanctions against Russia especially regarding fuels.
A few days ago the Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov praised the ‘Open Balkans’ Initiative which has been framed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama. Rama has been the target of criticism by the opposition while Kosovo has reiterated his rejection to the initiative with some officials asking why Rama works against Kosovo supporting Serbia. /Argumentum.al
