In Albania, the delegation of the European Parliament who visited Tirana criticized today the opposition's decision of giving up the mandates of the parlamentiary deputy. At the end of their mission, the MEPs said that "the boycott of the Parliament poses a very bad signal, undermining the credibility of the state and the nation as a whole", said Tunne Kelam, head of delegation. the consequences that internal disagreements would have on the decision of the European Council to open membership talks. "You can not find a claim to delay the most important national objective, because of the divisions related to party interests or different views," said Mr. Kelam.
"I'm very sorry, because the 'burning of the seats' is not the right way to solve the problems here in your country. We expect MPs to do their job and go to work.
This is about the principle, it does not have to do with or so, or so. We can organize street protests, but not in the run of parliamentary deliberations," said the rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament, Knut Fleckenstein.
The MEPs condemned the acts of violence that were recorded during opposition protests. "This is not the democratic way of solving the problems, we are against the incitement of violence by political parties, because it is against the stability and credibility of the country," said Mr. Kelam. While MEP Fleckenstein stressed, "Those who organize protests should ensure to not be violent. It is not possible to say that this is my protest, my people, but the violence is not mine. He who orders the food, has to pay. Those who organize the protests should ensure that violence is limited as far as possible. If by the middle of June, we see violence in the streets of Tirana, of course this will have consequences for the discussions at the Council meeting in June."
MEPs said Albania has made progress with reforms, especially with the process of re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors. "This is what the Council has asked for to make a positive decision. We call upon the Council to focus on these facts and in June to open the green light for opening the talks," Mr. Fleckenstein said.
The opposition accuses the government of coming to power through stolen votes thanks to its links to organized crime, they asks for a transitional government and early elections.
"I was here as an election observer, and our conclusion was that the elections went well. We can not say after a year and a half that they were not good elections. And when I hear from some parties saying the conclusions by European officials were not correct, I'm bored, because we have the best expertise. It is a surprise to hear Albanian politicians today say that the 2017 elections were not good. Please respect the outcome of the elections and work as a parliamentarian," said Cristian Preda, a representative of the People's Party group in the European Parliament. As for the head of the delegation, the deputy parliamentarian Kelam, "The Parliament is legally elected, has a legitimate government, so I think that focusing on the idea of a transitional government would hurt the focus we should have for opening the talks."
The European Parliament delegation had a meeting yesterday with Albanian opposition leaders. MEP Fleckenstein said he was "baptized and disappointed" by a statement at the end of the meeting by LSI chairman Monica Kryemadhi: "She said only one sentence at the end of the meeting that they have made their decision that Albania needs change of power, society and country, and if Europeans do not understand, this is not their problem. This is a clear message, and I believe that those who make decisions in Brussels and those who are here, understand the position of each of us," said Mr. Fleckenstein.
The reactions to MEPs' statements were imminent. The Socialist Movement for Integration(SMI) is expressed with harsh opposites, saying that the internationals, according to SMI, can not use two standards in their evaluations.
"For this the opposition is on the road, for this opposition will not be removed from the street and will continue to have a handkerchief to wipe the blurred eyes of all MEPs who we thing are incapable to see clearly.
Because of some big money, but dirty money," said LSI parliamentary group leader Petrit Vasili.
"I'm very sorry, because the 'burning of the seats' is not the right way to solve the problems here in your country. We expect MPs to do their job and go to work.
This is about the principle, it does not have to do with or so, or so. We can organize street protests, but not in the run of parliamentary deliberations," said the rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament, Knut Fleckenstein.
The MEPs condemned the acts of violence that were recorded during opposition protests. "This is not the democratic way of solving the problems, we are against the incitement of violence by political parties, because it is against the stability and credibility of the country," said Mr. Kelam. While MEP Fleckenstein stressed, "Those who organize protests should ensure to not be violent. It is not possible to say that this is my protest, my people, but the violence is not mine. He who orders the food, has to pay. Those who organize the protests should ensure that violence is limited as far as possible. If by the middle of June, we see violence in the streets of Tirana, of course this will have consequences for the discussions at the Council meeting in June."
MEPs said Albania has made progress with reforms, especially with the process of re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors. "This is what the Council has asked for to make a positive decision. We call upon the Council to focus on these facts and in June to open the green light for opening the talks," Mr. Fleckenstein said.
The opposition accuses the government of coming to power through stolen votes thanks to its links to organized crime, they asks for a transitional government and early elections.
"I was here as an election observer, and our conclusion was that the elections went well. We can not say after a year and a half that they were not good elections. And when I hear from some parties saying the conclusions by European officials were not correct, I'm bored, because we have the best expertise. It is a surprise to hear Albanian politicians today say that the 2017 elections were not good. Please respect the outcome of the elections and work as a parliamentarian," said Cristian Preda, a representative of the People's Party group in the European Parliament. As for the head of the delegation, the deputy parliamentarian Kelam, "The Parliament is legally elected, has a legitimate government, so I think that focusing on the idea of a transitional government would hurt the focus we should have for opening the talks."
The European Parliament delegation had a meeting yesterday with Albanian opposition leaders. MEP Fleckenstein said he was "baptized and disappointed" by a statement at the end of the meeting by LSI chairman Monica Kryemadhi: "She said only one sentence at the end of the meeting that they have made their decision that Albania needs change of power, society and country, and if Europeans do not understand, this is not their problem. This is a clear message, and I believe that those who make decisions in Brussels and those who are here, understand the position of each of us," said Mr. Fleckenstein.
The reactions to MEPs' statements were imminent. The Socialist Movement for Integration(SMI) is expressed with harsh opposites, saying that the internationals, according to SMI, can not use two standards in their evaluations.
"For this the opposition is on the road, for this opposition will not be removed from the street and will continue to have a handkerchief to wipe the blurred eyes of all MEPs who we thing are incapable to see clearly.
Because of some big money, but dirty money," said LSI parliamentary group leader Petrit Vasili.