ALBANIA: Opposition leader Edi Rama urges international community not to forget Albania

Record ID: 561686

  • Title: ALBANIA: Opposition leader Edi Rama urges international community not to forget Albania
  • Date: 22nd January 2011
  • Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (JANUARY 21, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) EDI RAMA SAYING: "We should not leave Albania alone. The world should just refer to the avis (advice) of the EU commission that has refused Albania as a candidate and has not opened negotiations to understand what is happening in this country. And then to understand that what is written in the EU commission opinion is just what one can watch of an iceberg. The rest is deepened in the Albanians' life with a government that is not a democratic one but is a hybrid regime as been said by international organisations that has kept Albania in hostage, that wants to transform Albania in a 'banana republic' in the middle of Europe. And more than that, want to transform this NATO member country in a country with no other voice than the voice of the power, propaganda with all that it takes to squeeze and bash not only the political opposition but everyone in the media, in the civil society, in the free life that do not accept to live with the only truth of celebration of former communists transformed in the leader for party that was born to give Albania the dreams and hopes that were refused 50 years from the most brutal dictatorship of the communist empire. And that transformed the party, the government of Albania and the Albanian life of today in a nightmare, starting from stolen elections that were generously forgiven by the international observers and going on by stealing everything and transforming the government of Albania in the most corrupt government that has nothing to do with the principle or the values of the Europe where we want to be part and of the United States that are our traditional example of democracy and freedom. At the end, I've just a question: for whoever would be believe for a second the ... (inaudible) regime propaganda about three people until now dead, many others wounded. In which country in Europe where much more aggressive and violent protest have happened, even in the last times, anyone lost his life or her life? In no one because as in Europe, the protesters today were not with weapons, were not with anything else than their umbrellas and the sticks of the slogans asking for a new solution, asking for new elections, asking for peace and democratic development. This is just an example, this is just a comparison I want to make telling to everyone that can hear my voice, that can hear our voice, please don't let Albania alone."
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania, Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9S9QFDPCCY539KESQKRRWPD4T
  • Story Text: Three men were shot dead as protesters battled police at an anti-government rally in the Albanian capital on Friday (January 21), in what Prime Minister Sali Berisha called an opposition attempt to foment a Tunisia-style uprising.
    Supporters of the opposition Socialist Party, which refuses to accept the result of a 2009 election, protested outside Berisha's office against what they see as official corruption and electoral fraud.
    The European Union rejected Albania's application in 2010 for the status of official candidate to join the bloc, urging it to fight corruption and establish a functioning democracy.
    Socialist Party leader Edi Rama told Reuters the refusal to consider Albania's application for EU membership leaves the country isolated from the international community.
    "We should not leave Albania alone. The world should just refer to the avis (advice) of the EU commission that has refused Albania as a candidate and has not opened negotiations to understand what is happening in this country," he said.
    The violence was the worst since the European Union applicant country spun out of control after the storming of the government building after the death of a lawmaker in 1998.
    Some 33 protesters and 17 policemen were wounded. A civilian and a policeman were in critical condition.
    The opposition Socialists called for new elections after refusing to accept the results of the June 2009 parliamentary polls, which Berisha's Democratic Party won by a wafer-thin margin.
    Talks to break the deadlock have repeatedly failed. Berisha's ally Ilir Meta, head of his junior coalition partner, resigned as deputy prime minister a week ago after being accused of corruption. Tension had escalated this week after sharp exchanges of accusations in parliament.
    Rama said the vote was rigged and accused international observers of ignoring the election problems..
    "That transformed the party, the government of Albania and the Albanian life of today in a nightmare, starting from stolen elections that were generously forgiven by the international observers and going on by stealing everything and transforming the government of Albania in the most corrupt government that has nothing to do with the principle or the values of the Europe where we want to be part and of the United States that are our traditional example of democracy and freedom," he said.
    Rama added the crowd was provoked and police had behaved unprofessionally.
    "In which country in Europe where much more aggressive and violent protest have happened, even in the last times, anyone lost his life or her life?" he asked.
    "In no one because as in Europe, the protesters today were not with weapons, were not with anything else than their umbrellas and the sticks of the slogans asking for a new solution, asking for new elections, asking for peace and democratic development," Rama said.
    In a joint statement, the Tirana missions of the EU, United States and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe deeply regretted the casualties and called for a compromise.
    The opposition leader made a final appeal: "This is just an example, this is just a comparison I want to make telling to everyone that can hear my voice, that can hear our voice, please don't let Albania alone."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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