Tirana, October 21 (Albania Journal) – Prime Minister Edi Rama has expressed solidarity with the country’s banking sector following violent attacks during recent protests in Tirana, while insisting that those responsible for inciting violence do not represent students and citizens seeking change.
Rama made the remarks during a meeting with banking sector leaders, where he acknowledged the government’s responsibility to address citizens’ concerns while condemning attacks on public institutions and clashes with police.
“I am here to express my solidarity with you regarding this very important and critical moment we are going through. I am here to tell you that this will pass, but we will not forget”, Rama said.
The prime minister stressed that the government must address the concerns of people participating peacefully in protests, as well as those who support their demands without endorsing violence.
“There is a responsibility to address the problems of those who are protesting or have protested peacefully, as well as those of many others who support the protesters, but not violence, not stones”, he said.
Rama argued that those involved in violent acts should not be confused with students and citizens who have legitimate reasons to express dissatisfaction, demand change and call for improvements.
“These elements are not students. They are not the part of society that has reasons to express dissatisfaction, to protest, to demand change, to demand many other things. That part is neither inciting nor supporting violence”, Rama said.
He also criticised a small number of university lecturers and others whom he accused of supporting or amplifying violent actions without distancing themselves from the unrest.
“Unfortunately, there are people, fewer and fewer, to be honest, but there are people, as in the case of some university lecturers, a very small part of lecturers overall, together with others involved there, who give publicity to it, provide support for it and do nothing to distance themselves from the violence”, he said.
According to Rama, television coverage has also contributed to the public attention surrounding the violence, as clashes with police and attacks on institutions have overshadowed the concerns of peaceful protesters.
The prime minister highlighted the stone-throwing attack on the Bank of Albania, describing it as a serious incident and comparing it with the country’s difficult past, including the financial crisis of 1997.
“The Bank of Albania was not attacked even in ’97, because there were no other banks. The other banks were Sudja and Xhaferri, where there was nothing left to attack because they had made the Albanians’ money evaporate. The Bank of Albania was not touched even in ’97, and today it has been pelted with stones”, Rama said.
He contrasted the current situation with the unrest of the past, saying that violent demonstrators were attempting to impose their demands through intimidation, threats and attacks.
“Today is completely different. Today we live in a parallel world of people who want to impose their world on us with stones, fire, threats, insults and all kinds of pressure within an area of central Tirana, which has turned into something like a scene from a horror film, where people wearing hoods and masks appear and confront the State Police, while the State Police does its job and stands its ground”, he said.
Rama added that, beyond the areas affected by the clashes, citizens continued to face everyday difficulties and had legitimate expectations that their living conditions would improve. He said the government remained responsible for addressing these concerns.
He urged all institutions, including banks, to maintain patience and composure amid the unrest. He described the banking sector as a key safeguard for the savings and investments of Albanian citizens.
“But all of this should serve as an overview to encourage great patience and maximum calm in all institutions and, without question, in this institution here and in the institutions across the banking network, which are guardians and guarantors of the savings and investments of Albanians”, Rama said.
The meeting comes as tensions continue over the protests in Tirana, with the prime minister reiterating that peaceful grievances must be addressed while violence and attacks on institutions remain unacceptable.
