Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has drawn criticism after making pointed and sarcastic remarks about modern Greeks during a panel discussion in the United Arab Emirates, moderated by a Greek coordinator.
Addressing the moderator directly, Mr Rama said Greeks often “underestimate others” because they believe they have a “monopoly on philosophy” and see themselves as the “direct heirs of Plato and Aristotle, but you are not.”
The exchange escalated when the moderator referred to a €1 billion investment project in Albania.
Mr Rama interrupted to correct the figure, saying it exceeded that amount, before adding a further barb: “You estimate like Greeks do. When you talk about your own money, you add three zeroes. When you talk about the money of others, you remove three zeroes. That’s what you do.”
He concluded the remark with further sarcasm, adding that this was “why the European Union loves you [Greece] so much.”
Source: Ekathimerini
