Albanian PM Edi Rama Takes Sharp Jabs at Greeks During UAE Panel Discussion

Greek City Times
January 16, 2026

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama unleashed a series of sarcastic and pointed remarks targeting Greece and Greeks during a panel at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) in the United Arab Emirates. The exchange occurred while he was speaking with Greek-American journalist and CNN veteran John Defterios, who moderated the session.

The tension began early when Defterios reportedly mispronounced Rama's surname (and that of Montenegrin PM Milojko Spajić) during introductions. Rama quickly seized on the error, linking it directly to the moderator's Greek heritage.

"You're Greek, right? That's why you mispronounced it. We're neighbors — we know you very well," Rama remarked, setting a combative tone for the discussion.

Rama then escalated with broader generalizations about Greek attitudes, explicitly challenging the link between modern Greeks and ancient Greek philosophers.

"As a Greek… you always underestimate people. You think you have a monopoly on philosophy. You think you are the direct heirs of Plato and Aristotle, but you are not," he stated caustically.

The barbs continued on economic matters. When Defterios referenced an investment project in Albania valued at around one billion, Rama corrected him and turned it into another dig at Greek financial habits.

"It's more than one billion. You count like a Greek," he quipped. "When you talk about your own money, you add three extra zeros. When you talk about other people's money, you remove three zeros. That's what you do — and that's why the European Union loves you so much."

Rama didn't stop at Greece. He also directed sarcasm toward Montenegro — the country of his fellow panelist — mockingly inflating its status: "Montenegro is the most important and biggest country in our region. They have 50 million citizens. We are a small country, Serbia is bigger, but Montenegro is unique."

The comments, captured in video clips circulating online, have drawn strong reactions in Greek media and on social platforms, with many viewing them as yet another instance of Rama's provocative style toward Greece.

Greek City Times will continue to monitor developments and reactions to this exchange.