Albanian Premier Edi Rama insisted with the project of the tax amnesty rejecting the warnings of domestic and international institutions that it would be a risky initiative.

“The idea of amnesty is very old in Albania, it’s not a new one”, Rama said in a meeting with groups of interest for the bill that will be sent to the parliament.

Rama deemed the foreign criticism as a lack of respect for Albania.

“Telling Albania that the amnesty in itself would be unacceptable is a lack of respect for Albania and for the government of the Republic of Albania. I’d like to tell our international partners that mutual respect is the alpha of our work. Any idea can be rejected politely, but treating Albania like a country with a tail when all the countries that lecture us have made amnesties regularly is neither fair nor the right thing”.

Rama’s attacks addressed in particular to the US Chamber of Commerce and the German Chamber of Commerce, which have opposed the idea of the amnesty as a project that risks turning into a form of money laundering for the organized crime money.

“When Commerce Chambers bearing the flags of partner countries write dazibaos for this initiative of the government it is a lack of respect for Albania’s sovereignty, dignity, and right to have its ambitions. Of course, financial institutions could have their legitimate objections, as well as the institutions of the fight against crime and money laundering. But, Commerce Chambers too?! Show me a businessperson that does not want an amnesty. Show me a chairperson of Commerce Chambers that has never made a hidden transaction, including those of the partner chambers”, said Rama.