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Kukan declared that the status is not for the parties, but for the Albanian people, and he advised the politicians to not prepare for whom to blame about the failure, but start competing for who will contribute more.
Top Channel: The electoral reform will join soon the solution of the Ombudsman and the voting of the qualified majority laws. But the priorities are 12. What should be done until October for the conclusions of this meeting?
Eduard Kukan: You must advance with the 12 main priorities and fulfill them. It is easy to say it with words, because I am aware of all the problems and matters that need to be addressed to. But there was a good climate, as a noted during the entire meeting. This period of time is much more important for the future of the country, the EU candidate status, since, as I understand, Albania’s desire is to progress in the European path and there has been a positive pressure towards all political actors in Albania. The electoral reform is a very important step in this direction, but I think that more tangible results are needed. We can see the council of December positively.
Valentina Leskaj: We have not fulfilled the November package. We need this package, because the Parliamentary reform is still incomplete. Certainly that the rest has been completed, even with the contribution of the opposition. I want to thank the EU representatives that this time valued the substantial role of the opposition in reforms, what was clearly emphasized by Mr. Sannino and Mr. Kukan. As regards the 12 priorities, which are related with the opposition, I believe that the role of the opposition was very active, not simply by voting in Parliament, but as a very important contribution. As regards the rest, it is a long way and we need to fulfill the expectancies that were underlined in these declarations. What matters is that it is not the case to make a list of laws or reforms and show them to Brussels, but the key issue is the law implementation, so that the impact of these reforms can serve to the people in Albania.
Fatos Beja: We are almost finalizing the 12 priorities. Based on this and the information that were given here, during the exchange of opinions between the groups, I asked that Albania should receive the candidate status this year. We are the only country that has been left behind on this only due to the political conflicts. Fortunately, we are on a different situation today. There are fewer things to be realized. We are almost fulfilling the priorities and I am very optimistic that we will receive the status this autumn.
Top Channel: If the list with the tangible measures and results that has been asked will not be handed over in time, will it be the government to blame, the opposition or the European Union?
Eduard Kukan: I hate to think that this could happen. It is your role as journalists to make difficult questions to the politicians, but the candidate status is not for the government or for the opposition, but for the entire country and its people. It is your profession to make questions, but my message is very clear: forget thinking who will be responsible, and if this will not happen, you must concentrate all your energies on who will be contributing more for achieving this. This is my message.
Valentina Leskaj: The Socialist leader in Tirana and we as representatives of the opposition, asked the European Union to help Albania in receiving the candidate status, but the date when this will be possible is up to Albania. The sooner we complete the reforms, the more efficient we will be, especially with the reforms that I consider as very difficult and that was underlined here, such as the fight against corruption, the fight against organized crime, the justice system and the media freedom, which also had a special attention in this session of the committee.
Fatos Beja: The different opinions of the majority and opposition on different issues in Albania are issues that belong to the Albanian Parliament. We are here in Brussels for the status, which will be given if Albania realizes the priorities. Hence, I have the optimism that since the priorities are ending, Albania must not be the only country that will not receive the EU candidate status due to the political debates in Tirana. I trust that the Electoral Code amends will be closed next week. I trust that the opposition will support the immunity removal from politicians and judges, which are necessary for having concrete results in the judiciary system and against corruption in general in Albania.
Top Channel: Mr. Kukan, you are expecting a telegram from Albania, for being part of the 100th year of independence. Can you say what should be written on the invitation?
Eduard Kukan: The message must be: the 12 priorities are completed. Only after this we can celebrate together.
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