Ergys Agasi, a much-talked-about name for his connections with politics and crime figures, was arrested on this hot Wednesday in August. Agasi was called by former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj in a RAI3 documentary as "coordinator between Prime Minister Edi Rama and criminal groups". The Prime Minister himself was also questioned about Ahmetaj's statements that Rama was expecting leaders of criminal groups in his office, in one of the rare cases when he has spoken about Agasi.
Rai3: Yes, is it true or not that you have met figures of Albanian organized crime.
Rama: I'll tell you something, because that's what made your reportage disgusting.
Rai3: However, I am here to hear your opinion.
KM: I'll tell you this. Since the Romans, our civilization has solved this problem. The burden is on the accuser to present the evidence, not the accused, because, if I accuse you now or if I ask you an innocent question, but a serious one: "Excuse me, did Becchetti pay you anything?" Is it up to you to prove it or is it up to me to prove it?
So, if I ask you this question, you'll say, "Of course not." But that's not the way to feed the public, because, in the meantime, if I ask you this question, the public will start thinking to themselves, "whew," because, generally speaking, human beings are many times more likely to be attracted to lies than to truths. In most cases, truths are boring, they don't make news; lies, on the other hand, are entertaining, they make news, and, then, all politicians are corrupt, all politicians are criminals.
So, why not, even the leaders of criminal organizations have come here and I draw, while they show me their trafficking maps. It would be a great film.
Rai3: Of course, a specific detail about the figure of Erebus (the crime lord) Agasi, namely Erebus Agasi may be somewhat the one who has reports...
Rama: Excuse me, but how can we do an interview, with you who represent a famous program in Italy, which has also conducted investigations, which have made surprising discoveries, that is, the public service, and with me who is the Prime Minister of Albania, and here we bring the conversation to such a low level and talk about people. That is, we take the names of people who are not even present, do not have positions or titles, people who have their own lives, it is not possible.
Rai3: I ask you a question, your answer may be convincing.
KM: My answer is this: "It is not in the public interest to take the names of people who have their own lives, who are in their own jobs, who have no connection whatsoever to your work, to my work, which is a serious job, where serious things are really talked about, and then become an object."
Rai3: Yes, the Albanian media also talk about Agas as the shadow man of your government. Is that true or not?
KM: No. Albanian media do not make a difference. Between “Report” and its counterpart in Albania, I choose Report. That is, for me, Report's disgust is honey compared to the disgust of your counterpart here in Albania. Albanian media are not an argument for this. When I talk to you, since you mentioned architects, I talk to someone who represents the category that, let's say, was created by Montanelli, not the category created by Enver Hoxha. /LAPSI.al
