Albanian PM kneels to present birthday gift to Italy's Meloni

ABU DHABI,— Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama offered a lighthearted birthday tribute to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the World Future Energy Summit on Wednesday.

Meloni, celebrating her 48th birthday, received a scarf as a gift from Rama, who marked the occasion with a rendition of “Tanti Auguri” (Happy Birthday) in Italian.

Rama, notably taller than Meloni, went down on one knee to hand a scarf as a birthday gift, explaining that it was designed by an Italian artist who had relocated to Albania.

The gesture underscored the camaraderie between the two leaders, who maintain a strong working relationship despite their differing political ideologies. Meloni leads the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, while Rama heads Albania’s Socialist Party.

Last year, the two leaders struck a controversial agreement to transfer some migrants rescued at sea by Italy to detention centers in Albania. However, the plan has faced legal hurdles, leaving the centers inactive for now.

Wednesday’s summit was also a stage for more formal diplomacy. Italy, Albania, and the United Arab Emirates signed a landmark deal to build a subsea interconnection for renewable energy across the Adriatic Sea.

The project, valued at a minimum of €1 billion ($1.1 billion), is expected to bolster energy cooperation in the region and support green initiatives.

The scarf and serenade moment provided a lighter touch to the high-stakes summit focused on the global energy transition. Rama’s gesture highlighted the personal rapport that often underpins diplomatic ties, even as the leaders tackled complex international issues.

This unique moment of celebration amid discussions of pressing energy challenges captured the attention of attendees and reflected the intertwined destinies of Italy and Albania in both diplomacy and development.

(With files from Reuters)