Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was filmed while kissing “passionately”, apparently on the neck, the head of the Italian executive, Giorgia Meloni, at the summit of the European Political Community, which took place on Thursday, June 1, in Bulboaca, in the Republic of Moldova .
Edi Rama and Giorgia Melonia represented their states among the other 43 European leaders who showed that they support the pro-European and pro-Western political ambitions of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and beyond, with diplomatic meetings also taking place to mediate tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as between Serbia and Kosovo, the latter two being in a process of European integration.
But Albania’s prime minister drew attention with his unusual and out-of-protocol gesture. His action went around the internet.
The editor-in-chief of Euractiv Czech Republic, Aneta Zachová, captured the moment when Edi Rama “warmly” hugs his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, notes Euronews Albania.
“Shouldn’t I be working for a tabloid?” Zachová wrote on Twitter, adding that she managed to film the tender moment between the two leaders at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Republic of Moldova.
The images were filmed immediately after the joint photo of the summit participants, notes TV8.md.
Albanian media reports that Edi Rama has been photographed and filmed in the past “boldly” kissing various European leaders, including the prime minister Xavier Bettel from Luxembourg – at the head, the prime minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić and the head of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen – on the hand.
Maia Sandu refuses to let Viktor Orban kiss her hand
Also yesterday, before moving on to discussions within the working groups, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky kissed Ursula von der Leyen three times on the cheek, a moment that took the president of the European Commission by surprise. This is because, unlike the Slavic peoples, in European countries they kiss on the cheek twice, writes the publication from the Republic of Moldova.
And Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban tried to kiss Maia Sandu’s hand as a sign of respect. The president, however, pulled his arm back, at which point the official apparently felt uncomfortable.
TV8.md also shows that, on Thursday evening, the Moldovan Foreign Minister took stock of the summit in a less formal format, and some netizens noted the look to the PAS deputy, Marcela Nistor.
Editor : A.C.
