Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha reacted after Russian Foreign Minister’s declarations that the Open Balkans initiative is a project that Russia supports.

Berisha called Lavrov “Putin’s Goebbels”, saying he advocated the project initiated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and approved by Albanian Premier Edi Rama and former North Macedonian Premier Zoran Zaev.

“Bloodthirsty dictator Putin’s Goebbels told the Serbian media he would be going to Belgrade for the Open Balkans project”, Berisha wrote.

“This proves that Edi Rama, a vassal of Aleksandar Vučić, is trying to put Albania, a NATO member, under Serbia’s hegemony and Russia’s direct influence”.

Lavrov said in an online press conference after not being allowed to fly over Balkans airspace that “those who pull the strings in Brussels did not want us to express our support to Belgrade, among others for the Open Balkans Project. Now it has become clear that Brussels, NATO and EU want to turn the Balkans into their Closed Balkans project”.

Berisha also welcomed the decision of NATO member countries to forbid Lavrov’s plane fly over the European airspace.