By Frank Shkreli
“The Way Forward for US-Albania Relations” is the title of an article by the US Chief Diplomat in Tirana.
The Way Forward for US-Albania Relations US Embassy in Albania (usembassy.gov)
The Ambassador of the United States of America in Albania, Her Excellency, Juri Kim has made a presentation of the “achievements” and “successes” of Albania in an article that I read on the portal of our embassy in Albania. To be honest, this article seemed so unusual to an American diplomat, both in terms of content and purpose, why the honorable ambassador was writing an article like this at this time. Usually, past “achievements” and “successes” and plans for the future are reported at the end of the year, normally, or in a separate report to the State Department. Therefore, this article seems to me more as a “farewell”, or perhaps even as an attempt in unilateral support to the socialist government of Albania, to justify the perceptions of many that it is a party, as commented by many readers on the portals of US Embassy.
From the beginning, I want to say that I have the greatest respect for American diplomats who serve around the world, often in very difficult circumstances, including especially those who serve in Albania and Kosovo. I say this because during my career, I have had the honor and privilege of working with many of them – in good times and especially in difficult times – during the Cold War and later in the transition period. With the American diplomats who have served with dignity in the Albanian lands and throughout the former communist Central and Central Europe – as worthy representatives of my adapted Homeland – the United States of America, where we enjoy our freedom, democracy and human rights. This blessed America that 50 years ago has sheltered me and my family as well as hundreds of thousands of Albanian-Americans over the decades – forced to flee Albanian lands by one of the wildest Slavo-Asian communist dictatorships, such as the communist regime of Enver Hoxha for almost half a century.
In this spirit, then – with love and respect for the values of my adapted Homeland, the United States of America and for the good of the Homeland of my ancestors, but also with respect for the work of American diplomats in Albania and for the sake of relations US-Albania friendly, despite my objections to some of the policies pursued by them over the decades – allow me to express this time some of my objections to what the Ambassador writes in her article published Wednesday on the way forward in US relations -Albania.
“Albania has concluded elections that will mark the return of the opposition to parliament, an event of critical importance. “As the ODIHR noted in its final report, the April 25 election was good, but not perfect,” Ms. Kim wrote.
On the contrary, the only positive thing I read in the ODIHR report is that the election, as the report says, was “quiet”. The elections were calm even in the time of Enver Hoxha, but because they were calm, it does not make them “good” or cheap. Albania has not had good, free or fair elections in the last 30 years, regardless of which party has been in power. Frank Shkreli / June 30 elections: A disgrace for the Albanian government, a failure for the opposition, a shame for the internationals and a disaster for the Albanian nation! | Gazeta Telegraf
This tradition continued with the recent elections in Albania. No impartial observer can claim that these elections were “good”, free and fair. Either we trust the ODIHR or not. Among other things, in his report on the elections in Albania, to cut short the conversation, it is said that the ruling party “misused administrative resources”. Defines “collecting information about personal data” as a serious problem. “Vote buying remains a concern,” it said. “Pressure on the media” from the great corruption that has affected the Albanian society, it is said, among other things, in the ODIHR report on the last elections in Albania, is also something to worry about for all those who believe in the vote. free. If these problems and other concerns in the ODIHR report make these choices “good”, then we have a big difference in the interpretation of the difference between good and evil as a concept. In every other country in Europe, I do not believe that these elections would be considered “good”, nor fair, nor free. As such, unfortunately, I do not believe that they will lead Albania “to the European family”, as we all want.
“Five years after the laws were passed, justice reform is yielding real results that will help end impunity,” wrote Ambassador Kim. All those who love Albania and want the best for the Albanian Nation – and in this group I believe to be Ambassador Kim – love and support justice reform, to put an end once and for all to “impunity” and corruption in that country, including the political impunity that has reigned in Albanian politics for a century now. It is very good that the “new reform” in the judiciary is dealing with the punishment of thieves, criminals, corrupt and thugs. We wish you success!
What can be said about the 30 members of the new Albanian parliament, from all sides – who, according to some Albanian media – were members or had ties to the former notorious Security of the communist regime. These have emerged from this year’s “good” elections in Albania and will make the laws for the future of Albania. Why do not Western diplomats in Tirana insist that members of the new Assembly, which will begin work in September, undergo a veto to clean up the mess – as has been the case in many former communist countries. Why it is not done in Albania. As long as the international community does not insist that Albania face its communist past – as other former communist countries in Europe have done and the inhuman crimes of Enver Hoxha, Albania will not become a normal state or a member of the European Union!
Also, as I have said other times, I do not believe that the new justice reform can succeed – despite some positive initial signs – when this reform is almost exclusively in the hands of former judges and former prosecutors. communist regime. How is it possible that Albania’s most important institutions are still controlled by heirs and apologists of the communist regime. I wish they succeed, but it remains to be seen. I have often asked this question to Western diplomats in Tirana, but I have never received an answer that justifies the support they have given and give to these people at the highest levels of government and the Albanian state. I do not believe that there can be reform, whatever it is, with these people compromised with the regime of Enver Hoxha and maybe even with the crimes of that regime.
It is true that, as Ambassador Kim writes, “Thirty years after the Albanian people – with the full support of the United States – broke the shackles of the communist dictatorship, Albania has reached a new moment of historic opportunity.” Albania, the Ambassador, has probably thrown the shackles of the communist dictatorship as it was before 1990, but not the legacy and the people who kept that dictatorship alive for almost half a century. I am sure that you have met many of them in Tirana. Many of them will be in the new Albanian parliament where they will decide the future of Albania 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and many of them decide “justice” even today. You are right when you say that Albania needs deep reflection of moral conscience and real planning. We should all ask why these people are part of Albanian politics today – but not just for learning from the past, as you suggest – but official Tirana and the political class in general and without distinction, including Western diplomats like you, Mrs. Kim – have need for a formal distancing, once and for all – from the legacy of the communist past. Albania needs cleansing, for a new beginning, with new people, because as you write, the United States wants “an ally that is strong, capable and prosperous.” This is not achieved by the silence of Western diplomats and by being neutral towards Enver Hoxha nostalgics at the highest levels of government and the Albanian state! Many of them, including Prime Minister Rama, have expressed their adoration for that dark period of the Albanian Nation. I have been saying for years that with this morally and politically compromised political class and supported by the international community, Albania will not be a valuable ally, neither strong nor prosperous, who share common values with the American people, and consequently it will not even be a worthy ally that the United States deserves. Albania needs the cleansing from politics of all former collaborators and nostalgics of communism as much as it needs the cleansing of today’s corrupt from political life due to the legal system.
Honorable Ambassador, I agree with you that Albanians are tired and no longer tolerate this corrupt political class, ostensibly post-communist. I agree that as you end your article, the Albanians you have visited and talked to – from Shkodra to Gjirokastra, all, “unite at one point: it has come to the tip of your nose with the old methods; want real change; want the end of corruption; want a justice system where no one is above the law; want criminals to stay out of government and politics; want a place that entices young people to stay because of opportunities; they want a country that moves forward, not backward. ” 30 years of post-communism no one can be proud of any great achievement in Albania – neither domestic politics nor internationals – when most Albanians, especially young people look for opportunities to leave the country as soon as possible . This situation of emptying the country, in fact, is turning into a national tragedy, of epic proportions.
In conclusion, I also join you, Madam Ambassador, for the urgent need that in order to save the Albanian democracy, a moral reflection, planning and intensification of the efforts of all Albanians and foreign diplomats in Tirana is needed. The time has come for Albanians to take their destiny into their own hands by electing (in free and fair elections) new leaders who will advance not only US-Albania ties, but also those who will work sparingly and without interest. corrupt personalities and parties, for a better future for all Albanians without distinction and for a permanent distancing from the tragic communist legacy. With you also, “We hope that the leaders of Albania – those in power and those who hope to be in power one day – will also reflect and plan for the future, for a more democratic, more secure and more prosperous Albania.” , for all.
Albania needs a new beginning, with new people! For the good of that very suffering people, for the good of the further development of the relations between the Albanians and America, which the Albanian Nation, for more than a century even now sees as the last hope. Let us not disappoint the Albanians, Madam Ambassador! 30 years have passed. Enough is enough!
DEMOCRACY DOES NOT WAIT!