TCH : The electoral campaign is showing signals from the past. The government, the parties and the institutions will face another democracy test. What are the expectancies and do you believe that the message of the US State Secretary Hilary Clinton was heard properly in Tirana by those who are responsible to turn democracy into reality?
Reeker: “If it wasn’t heard, they can play it again and read again the Secretary Speech before the Parliament in Tirana, which was really before all of the people in Albania, a message for them, a support and solidarity of the United States, our longstanding positive relationship with Albania. But indeed, I think this year for Albania is particularly important, because there will be elections in June. As you noted, the election campaign season is already pretty much under way. I could see that even when I last visited Tirana in September.
It is vitally important, not only for Albania’s European future in the EU, as outlined in the Councils’ conclusions and the European Commission’s progress report, that Albania continue to work on a number of areas in consolidating its democracy and undertaking reforms. That was disappointing that they were unable to pass some of the laws and take some of the actions that had been laid out in order to gain the EU candidate status formally.
But I think that more important for Albania’s European prospects, but even more fundamental for Albania’s future, for the people of Albania, these elections need to be good; they need to be free and fair. They need to be seen not just by the international community, as democratic free and fair elections, but also by seen by the people of Albania, the citizens of Albania, for whom the elections are undertaken. They need to have confidence in their leaders, so that will be an important signal to make sure that those elections will run free and fair, and with the standards that one would expect at this point in Albania’s history.
This election in Albania in June is an important opportunity to demonstrate that Albania has reached a new level. The elections have not been one of Albania’s strong points in its history.”
In his long comment about Albania, Philip Reeker expressed a special concern on the nationalist rhetoric which according to him only diverts attention and is unnecessary.
Reeker: “We have been concerned as the campaign moves forward by a lot of the nationalist rhetoric which we find disturbing and unnecessary. It is a distraction from what really is important. History has shown in the past 100 years and long before that this kind of rhetoric does not help citizens with their needs. It doesn’t create jobs; it doesn’t move the economic prospects forward.
It’s simply a distraction. It’s populous and often very unfortunate. I think it will be wiser for leaders to focus on how they can move their country forward, particularly on its European path that we see as important for Albania.
Albania is a member of the NATO, they did a lot to work on that process and become a full member of the Alliance in 2009. As such, they’re expected to live up to a certain standard and work on the reforms ahead.
Rather than taking dangerous distractions, I think they would do well to focus on the things that really matter for Albania’s future, particularly economically.
Reeker visited Brussels for the coordination and cooperation of US policies with the EU for the Balkan regions.alysis
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