Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama attempted to defuse a diplomatic row with Greece on Friday, insisting his controversial remarks questioning modern Greeks’ connection to ancient philosophers were merely “friendly humor” distorted by nationalist fervor. Mr. Rama issued the clarification following a wave of backlash over comments made during a panel at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The incident began when the moderator, veteran Greek-American journalist John Defterios, mispronounced the prime minister’s name as “Rame.” Visibly irritated, Mr. Rama launched into a critique of the journalist’s heritage. “This is what you do,” he told Mr. Defterios. “You always underestimate people because you think you have a monopoly on philosophy and that you are descendants of Plato and Aristotle — but you are not.” The remark, widely circulated on social media, drew sharp rebukes from Greek commentators who viewed it as an attack on their national identity. In his follow-up statement on Friday, Jan. 16, Mr. Rama expressed “astonishment” at the reaction. He described Greece as an “irreplaceable neighbor” and affirmed that ancient Greece is the “cradle of European civilization.” However, the Albanian leader stopped short of a full apology, effectively repeating the core of his initial sentiment. “Let no one among the worried and hurt ask me to admit... that anyone who writes and speaks Greek with nationalist pathos should seem to me a descendant of Plato and Aristotle,” Mr. Rama wrote. The friction in Abu Dhabi extended beyond philosophy. During a discussion on economic investments, Mr. Rama interrupted Mr.Defterios to correct a figure, adding another barb about Greek financial reliability. “You are calculating like a Greek again,” Mr. Rama said. “When you talk about your own money, you add three zeros. When you talk about other people’s money, you subtract three zeros. That is why the EU loves you so much.” Mr. Rama also made a bizarre, sarcastic claim that neighboring Montenegro has “50 million citizens,” a comment that confused the audience given the country’s population of roughly 630,000. The exchange comes at a sensitive time for Athens and Tirana, as the two nations navigate complex disputes over maritime borders and the rights of the Greek minority in southern Albania. Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr