On Wednesday Rama tweeted: “It is crystal clear that the reduced quote was misleading enough for anyone with a vested ideological interest to run with it.”

In the interview, Hoxha mooted the prospect that the deal, for Albania to host migrants claiming asylum in Italy would lapse after 2030 because his country will have joined the EU by then, putting a potential end date on Giorgia Meloni’s ability to externalise her migration policy.

His comments were widely reported in Italy and triggered a political firestorm for Giorgia Meloni’s eurosceptic nationalist coalition.

The right-wing Italian press blamed left-wing opposition parties for misrepresenting Hoxha’s comments.

After widespread coverage in the Italian press, from La Stampa to Corriere della Sera. Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister, told journalists: “2030 is so far away; let’s focus on what we need to do now.”

Rama slapped down his foreign minister online on Tuesday: “Let me reiterate, clearly and hopefully once and for all, that our Protocol with Italy is here to stay, for as long as Italy wants it.” Giorgia Meloni responded to his postwith a brief thank you, “Grazie Edi”.

This is what Hoxha told Euractiv, word for word on Tuesday: “I’m saying to you that after five years, once Albania joins, that is no longer extraterritorial. It’s the territory of the European Union. First of all, it’s for five years and I’m not sure that there will be an extension. Second, there will be no extension because we will be a member of the European Union.”

In a personal climb down on Wednesday, Rama addressed the journalist, Eddy Wax, who had conducted the interview. “But truly, no hard feelings at all. One Eddy has to do what he wants, and the other Edi has to endure what he must,” he wrote.

(bw)