On November 29^th 2012, Albania of the then Premier Sali Berisha and some tens of other countries, mainly from the Eastern Europe, abstained in the United Nations voting to give Palestine the status of the observing member. Turkish Premier at that time, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had lobbied heavily to support Palestine, while the United States was against.

After the vote, Edogan told the Turkish media he had pressured on a Muslim country leader to vote in favour of the resolution on Palestine, but had failed to convince him, adding the world was “full of cowards”. He did not say the name of the “coward”, but the Turkish daily Hürriet identified Albanian Premier Berisha as the leader attacked by Erdogan and Albania as the country that dared to stand against the Turkish Premier’s pressure.

Regardless the fact Albania was among the first states that recognized the state of Palestine and allowed the opening of its embassy in Tirana; regardless the fact Berisha had stated said in the United Nations Palestine deserved to have its own state and regardless the fact Albania’s decision was taken considering different geopolitical, cultural and other parameters and circumstances, the fact that Albania did not accept Erdogan’s dictate made him offend publicly his Albanian homologue.

The Turkish-Albanian relations have been excellent for decades, regardless who was leading either of the countries. For political, geopolitical, military, economical, cultural and historical reasons, the relations among the two countries have been, are, must and will continue to be strong. The relations between both peoples are also solid and friendly.

After the Socialists came to power, the relations seemed to take a new incentive, with Edi Rama who hurried to declare Turkey as Albania’s strategic ally (even though he did the same thing with a number of other countries as well). As a matter of fact, the relations between the two countries rather had the look of the personal relations between Rama and Erdogan, culminating with Rama’s participation in Erdogan’s daughter’s wedding and when the Turkish President became Albanian Premier’s personal chauffeur. There’s nothing better than when the positive relations between two leaders serve as an incentive for the improvement and consolidation of the political and economical relations between the respective countries. In case it happens.

Perhaps the confrontation between Erdogan and Berisha wouldn’t have been recalled hadn’t it been for an interview of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capability of Turkish President, surprisingly rushed, only five days before the elections, where he showed openly his support for Premier Rama. He went even further when he asked Ilir Meta to make a post-electoral coalition with Edi Rama and the Renaissance.

The declaration of the Turkish President should not be seen merely as a favour he is doing to his friend, the going Premier Rama. It cannot be understood now how much effect such unprecedented interventions in the peak of the electoral campaign will have and only Mr. Erdogan may understand the contribution in the strengthening of the relations between the countries.

Visible is though the inside and outside context of the developments that made the Albanian Prime Minister to seek help from the Turkish President. Edi Rama is in the end of an electoral campaign with disastrous 4-year governing balance-sheet; with a ridiculous campaign, where the words “steering wheel” and “pie pan” have become the only electoral slogan; where his governing partner now is running against him and, from what can be understood by the rhetoric, quickly closing any possibility for another coalition; and it’s clear that without this ally Edi Rama will no longer be Prime Minister.

Also, last week, with a tectonic movement, the President of the United States met the opposition leader Lulzim Basha, in the peak of the electoral campaign, showing openly his support for him and giving a below-belt punch to the incumbent Prime Minister. It is clear for all this is the moment of vendetta and President Trump did not hesitate to return the debt.

It’s worth saying Turkey’s relations with the United States, Germany and EU countries are in their lowest point after the failed coup of last August. Despite the (many) reasons of the degradation of the relations, what was seen in the last week of the electoral campaign in Albania was the open support of the US President for Lulzim Basha and the support of the Turkish President for Edi Rama.

While Edi Rama has an open account with President Trump, Lulzim Basha does not have one with President Erdogan. While the odds for a good relationship between Premier Rama and the United States after June 25 are zero, the odds for a good relation between Premier Basha and Turkey are realistic and there is no reason not to be like that, despite Erdogan’s out-of-place intervention.

Putting the Albanian electorate in front of two alternatives, between what is supported by the United States and what is supported by Turkey, is a tactical and strategic mistake of Edi Rama and only his. Only he is responsible and only he will suffer the consequences. The choice between the two alternatives was made by Albanians 26 years ago, with then US Secretary of State James Baker’ visit in Tirana.