Heartwarming moment: Albanian PM kneels to celebrate Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s birthday | WATCH

Viral: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama commemorated the 48th birthday of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a quite endearing and unusual manner at the World Future Energy Summit on Wednesday. The tall Rama would stoop down to offer Meloni an exceptional gift—a light scarf, made by an Italian designer who had moved to Albania. The Italian Prime Minister also appreciated her Albanian counterpart for singing "Tanti Auguri" (Happy Birthday) for her.

🇦🇱🇮🇹 Albanian PM Edi Rama knelt before Italian PM Giorgia Meloni during their visit to Abu Dhabi, presenting her with a scarf as a birthday gift and referring to her as "Your Majesty".

He also tried to place the scarf over her head like a hijab. pic.twitter.com/QSqEuuBexM

— kos_data (@kos_data) January 15, 2025

A symbolic gesture of collaboration

A token of goodwill by Albanian and Italian leaders, the scarf signifies a strong working relationship between leaders. Rama leads Albania's Socialist Party while Meloni leads the right-wing Brothers of Italy. However, these two have partnered up on several very important initiatives in the past. Last year, the two came to an agreement to send rescued migrants from Italy to detention centers in Albania. The centers still lie idle for legal reasons; however, it is a symbol of the practical partnership between nations.

Historic energy deal signed

Another landmark moment the summit brought about was about the cooperation in renewable energy. Italy, Albania, and United Arab Emirates signed an €1 billion ($1 billion) deal constructing a subsea interconnection across the Adriatic Sea. The huge project is to increase the capability of renewable energy in the region and further tie the countries together.

This hybrid blend of politics and personal touch is a very rare combination in political summits.
Rama’s gesture not only celebrated Meloni’s birthday but also showcased a personal touch that is rare in high-level diplomacy. Observers noted how the event highlighted the leaders’ ability to navigate political differences while fostering mutual respect and cooperation.