Meta responds to Balla from the cell: I decreed Ferit Hoxha as ambassador against my will

2026-03-05 18:40:00, Politikë CNA

Meta responds to Balla from the cell: I decreed Ferit Hoxha as ambassador

The leader of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta, has responded to the leader of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, after the latter mentioned him today in the Assembly regarding Ferit Hoxha, who was voted in today as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania.

Meta states that during his time as president, he decreed Ferit Hoxha as ambassador for the umpteenth time, against his wishes.

Meta's full reaction:

Forced reply by Mr. Taulant Balla from the castle 313

Mr. Balla, since you mentioned my name today on a very serious matter, I am forced to respond to you remotely.

You are right to be confused by the truths that Mr. Tedi Blushi said today from the floor of the Parliament.

Personally, when I learned these truths, I couldn't get over it for days, because the person we are discussing has been my favorite diplomat, since '98 until the day I learned these painful facts.

I don't remember how many times I promoted him to the position of ambassador in my previous positions, as Foreign Minister, Prime Minister, and President of the Republic.

But you have a "right" because I signed it twice against my will, for these reasons that I am making public to you, unable to meet up close.

First, after becoming familiar with these facts, it is true that I signed him as an ambassador to UNESCO solely for humanitarian reasons, due to a family tragedy that had befallen him.

I did not want to sign it as ambassador to the UN and I also told these reasons to the Foreign Minister at that time, because it was an important and historic position because Albania was taking over the Presidency of the Security Council, which had been initiated when Mr. Besnik Mustafaj was Foreign Minister.

But, as Mr. Tedi Blushi told you today, after a few days, the Foreign Minister of the time sent me a message that she had spoken with the Prime Minister and he had no other candidate.

So I was forced to sign it because I could not leave Albania without an ambassador to the UN since it was the first time that our country took over the Presidency of the Security Council.

Secondly, I did not want to open another public crisis because I had enough of the ones I had with the Prime Minister and the one-party Assembly, both regarding the Constitutional Court but also other major issues.

Mr. Balla, you "rightly" criticized Mr. Tedi Blushi today for saying this today and not saying it before.

But I have a counter-question for you, if Mr. Blushi did not say it today and a year later you were to propose Ferit Hoxha for President of the Republic, would Mr. Blushi have a clear conscience, as a member of parliament who has sworn an oath on the Constitution of the Republic of Albania.

And finally, I appreciate your pride in the Constitutional Court's decision on the Sea Issue, but I would ask you, perhaps you forgot to take a look at my letter that I sent to all MPs about this agreement, as well as the public letter I wrote to Ms. Elisa Spiropali, which you dismissed today, before her official visit to Athens.

I understand if you cannot find, as a political force, someone stronger professionally than Ferit Hoxha, but I would not be happy if you cannot find a more patriotic candidate from your ranks. /CNA