Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has attempted to backtrack following the strong reactions sparked by his public attack on Greek-American journalist John Defterios during a discussion at the Sustainable Development Summit in Abu Dhabi. In a post on social media, Rama now claims that what he said was merely “friendly humor,” while accusing Greek media outlets and politicians of being driven by “nationalist fervor.”

In his post, the Albanian prime minister says he is “surprised” by the reactions in Athens, arguing that his remarks toward John Defterios were “not in the slightest hostile,” but had a “humorous tone.” He speaks of selective presentation of his words which—according to him—was turned into a “public polemic fueled by nationalist passion,” a phenomenon he claims “often occurs in Athenian media.”

In the same text, Rama seeks to defuse tensions, assuring that he does not question that Plato and Aristotle are Greek philosophers and that Ancient Greece is “the cradle of European civilization.” He adds that he feels “only admiration” for Greek culture, past and present, and speaks of a “brotherly” relationship between the two peoples, while also expressing “special respect” for the Greek prime minister.

However, the closing lines of his post revert to the same tone that initially provoked widespread condemnation. Rama notes ironically that he cannot consider descendants of Plato and Aristotle those who “write and speak Greek with nationalist passion,” once again leaving pointed insinuations.

See Edi Rama’s post:

Unofficial translation:

“I am surprised by the reaction of some media in Athens and some tired Greek politicians to the absolutely impartial, but friendly and humorous tone of my conversation with the distinguished journalist John Defterios at the panel organized at the Sustainable Development Conference in Abu Dhabi!

It is incredible that a phrase said in jest can be taken completely out of context and turned into a public dispute fueled by nationalist passion—something that, unfortunately, happens often in Athenian media!

But I reassure all those who are concerned and feel offended that I have not the slightest doubt that Plato and Aristotle are Greek philosophers and that Ancient Greece is the cradle of European civilization; that Greek culture deserves only admiration, not only for the philosophers of antiquity, but also for the poets, writers, filmmakers and the music it has given to humanity; that Greece is a country for which I harbor the most positive feelings; that the Greek people are, to me, an irreplaceable neighbor and an indivisible brother of the Albanian people; and that I have special respect for the Prime Minister of Greece 🇦🇱❤️🇬🇷

Have we understood each other? I hope so.

But please, those who are upset and offended by my humor should not expect me to consider anyone who writes and speaks Greek with the nationalist passion of the aforementioned as a successor of Plato and Aristotle. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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That’s all.”

The incident

This statement comes after the highly charged incident on the summit stage in Abu Dhabi, when Edi Rama, prompted by an initial linguistic mistake in the pronunciation of names, repeatedly launched jabs at John Defterios because of his Greek origin.

Among other things, he accused him of “belittling others” because, as he said, “he thinks he is an heir of Plato and Aristotle,” and later returned with comments about the way “Greeks count money,” even linking this attitude to Greece’s relationship with the European Union.