Friday, March 29

New macho comment from a journalist to Sanna Marin: “Welcome to Tirana, it’s amazing”


Welcome to Tirana, you are amazing. This is how a journalist received the Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, upon her arrival at the summit between the European Union and the Western Balkan countries: “Welcome to Tirana, it’s amazing.” The Prime Minister responded: “Thank you very much.” She has turned and left.

It is not the only macho comment that Marin has received in recent days; a comment that would never be made to a male ruler.

The New Zealand president, Jacinda Ardern, and Marin herself met on November 30 in Auckland and had to explain when asked by a journalist that they had met because they were prime ministers and not because they were women.

Both presidents thus reacted to a journalist’s question at a press conference about their affinity for being of a similar age, to which Ardern and Marin have responded by rejecting this insinuation and underlining the economic potential between the two countries.

“Many people ask: are you meeting because you are the same age and have many things in common – in politics and other matters – or can New Zealanders expect agreements between our countries later on?” the journalist asked.

Ardern reacted by asking in turn whether anyone would have asked the same question of former US President Barack Obama and former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key when they met in the past.

“My first question is if anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they got together because they were similar in age. Of course, we have a higher proportion of men in politics, that’s the reality, because two women getting together is not simply because of their gender,” said the New Zealand president.

The Finnish prime minister, on an official visit to New Zealand between November 29 and December 1, has also reacted firmly to the question: “We meet because we are prime ministers, of course.”

At the summit attended by Sanna Marin on Tuesday, the European Union has pledged to “accelerate” the enlargement process of the Western Balkans. “The EU reconfirms its complete and unequivocal commitment to the prospect of EU membership of the Western Balkans and calls for the acceleration of the accession process, which is in our mutual interest,” says the final declaration agreed by the heads of state. and of Government.

The document highlights that “the association between the EU and the Western Balkans region” is “strategic”, especially after Russia’s war against Ukraine, “which is putting European peace and security at risk. Being together with the The EU is a clear sign of strategic direction, now more than ever, as Russia escalates its aggressive war against Ukraine.”

Thus, the 27 urge the Balkan countries to “rapid and sustained progress towards full alignment” with the EU, “including” sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which Serbia does not apply, for example.

In addition, the EU leaders demanded that Serbia and Kosovo avoid “unilateral actions” that raise tension in the region: “There is a shared responsibility to guarantee peace and stability.”

The EU also calls on Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to “continue reforms” in respect of the rule of law, judicial independence and the fight against corruption and organized crime.

The EU is also willing that the countries of the region can participate in the joint purchases of gas and hydrogen from the 27 to reduce dependence on Russian gas.



www.eldiario.es