Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke this Wednesday at the World Law Congress, where he awarded the title of “Doctor Honoris Causa” to several distinguished academics and public figures. During his speech, Rama also shared an episode involving Ricardo Hausmann, who also received the honorary title.

“It is a privilege for us to be the host capital of the World Law Congress, and I am very pleased that, as a pre-congress visitor, we will be together tomorrow in a special session that served as a prelude to the congress, according to the tradition of this global platform that brings together distinguished figures in the field of law.

Today, I was called here at his request to the organizers, which, believe me, was not a light burden. But on special occasions, I find it impossible to entrust my words entirely to a translator. I will now switch to English; for me, this is like an exam before a professor.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are many economists who explain the world after it changes, and then there are very few economists who change the world before the world itself notices. Professor Ricardo Hausmann belongs to the second category.

Tonight, we are not simply celebrating an outstanding intellectual. We are honoring a personality who has taught nations to discover more about themselves.

And I must say something from the beginning: my relationship with Ricardo started as a total failure. I tried unsuccessfully to reach him when I was in opposition. I wrote to him and tried to find ways to tell him that Albania was worth his time, and in return, I received silence — no sign at all.

Apparently, he had never heard that a painter wanted to become Prime Minister of Albania. Ricardo himself was in opposition to the leadership in Venezuela. I kept wondering why someone would refuse to speak with another person, but eventually I understood something very important: first, you have to win the elections, which in retrospect may be the most sophisticated vetting process of all. So, as soon as I won, Ricardo came.

And he did not come as just another expert with a PowerPoint presentation and a return ticket already booked. He came with boots on the ground, and that matters because countries like ours have seen many experts — experts who come claiming to know everything, who explain the country after spending six hours in a hotel, who prepare reports so thick that nobody listens to them.

There are also experts who always blame you for their own failures. Ricardo was completely different. He listened, asked questions, and observed. Our first conversation took place on a terrace in Tirana, and he spoke to me about the needs and resources from which Albania’s development could best be encouraged,” Rama said among other remarks.