Realpolitik “ Flash” No. 32
1 – 16 OCTOBER 2022
EXCLUSIVELY at ARGUMENTUM,
“Grand Master” in diplomacy, DR. JORGJI KOTE, “ dots the i’s and crosses the t’s” on 5 major events in 1000 words only.
1. Political club or community? This is the question raised after the European Political Community ( EPC) was launched in Prague on 6 October. Many guesses and suspicions on this new grouping with 44 states; since the EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and other regional initiatives are in place. This is why Germany is against turning EPC into an institution with structures, secretariats and funding, reducing it to a bi-annual consultative forum. But France as the initiator and plans are underway to turn EPC into a new OSCE, BUT without Russia and Bjelarus. Something normal, so that the EPC would not remain a mere political club with “talk and eating”. Let us wait for 2024, when its program and structure will be finalized.
2. A bad joke was the one that PM Rama told in Bergamo, Italy, on 10 October in a municipal event. He did even “ steal” that event with nasty jokes, as the only Premier that uses them at random. In fact, the schools of public communication for the political leadership do not recommend the use of epithets, metaphors, bad and banal jokes. Prime Minister Rama made such jokes in Bergamo, which produced a lot of public harm. At the presence of the Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi di Maio, he said that they agreed to make contrabanda of korona vaccines through the secret services of both coutries; adding that one cannot be Albanian or Italian without making a little contrabanda! This produced a lot of fuss and frustration amidst the Italian media and public. Therefore, on the next day, Rama was forced to declare that it was just a joke! And, as usually in such cases, he attacked the media and opposition that allegedly do not see and correctly interpret his jokes! Instead, he should search the problem into himself; for it is much easier for him to speak in plain and serious terms, but as a Prime Minister, not as joke teller or actor !
3. From Harram to hallal was what Erdogan told PM Rama on 11 October, when unexpectedly they were seen shaking hands in the Presidential palace in Ankara! Nothing at all was said about the topics. But PM Rama does not care about it, since following the “ kallkan and haram”, this time the “ Big Brother” welcomed him with « bujrum and hallall ! ». After the proofs that Tirana gave through shutting down the gylenist kindergarten and the school, allegedly for technical defects, the expulsion of a Turkish journalist and the praises everywhere for Erdogan in New York, Prague, Strasburg and in Berlin on 15 October. In fact, both are in big trouble due to decisive elections ahead; Erdogan with the presidential ones next June and Rama with the locals next May, which this time are much more important than parliamentary elections; when their popularity is declining rapidly; when the USA and the EU have finally started to send to Rama strong political messages that he should not continue his old tune but stick to reforms.
4. Helpful or harmful? This is the question posed after PM Rama addressed the Parliamentary Asesmbly of the Council of Europe on 12 Ocrtober in Strasburg. Because the success of a diplomatic move is measured not by a speech but by the final product. Actually, his long speech stirred irritation and discontent for the contents and mainly for the style of his articulation, lacking ethics and courtesy, with frontal accusations, a harsh language, the inappropriate body language, going beyond the issues, turning the speech into an indictment against all those present, unacceptable for that high audience. Even the long answers aggravated the situation further. As to the official dinner, as “ the desert left for the end” it turned sour, since the invitation of the Albanian side was rejected by the political leaders in Strasbourg.
Likewise, Mr. Rama’s defence for the former leaders of the KLA accused in the Hague and the promotion of Kosovo, as a new Member of the Council was overshadowed by some grave misstatements; especially the one lifting the blame out of Serbia for the genocide in Kosovo, presenting the conflict there as “ humanitarian” the appeal not to make pressure on Serbia for the sanctions against Russia, mentioning “ Kosovo nation”, considering Vuçiç as his friend, although the latter has glorified Dick Marty and so on. In fact, this speech may serve as a pattern in the schools of journalism to tell how a Prime Minister of a small state should NOT speak in such forums. What is even worse, after this speech, nothing is for certain in the diplomatic ground and in the Hague; not even the adoption of a new Resolution, due to the argument that we should wait for the final verdict; meanwhile, Rama’s repeated statements in his speech maybe also interpreted as a political pressure over the tribunal in the Hague. They do nto say at random “ take care, the strong vinegar spoils its own broth”!
5. Few carrots, many sticks contained the Progress Report of the EU Commission of 13 October on Albania. With some positive assessments for full aligment of Albania’s foreign policy with the EU, economic growth, judicial reform and others. Hence a few but not many “ carrots” this time. It is “ the sticks” that prevail there, due to substantial failures, problems and challenges. Nearly 20 groups of problems and troubles crying out for solution. Well, this is not unexpected in the face of existing problems and those produced by this majority. Particularly the 3 controversial draft laws on Fiscal Amnesty, Golden Passports and the Media Law which, should the government not withdraw, they could delay our road to the EU; then, corruption, organized crime and asylum that are growing with dreadful rates. All these when Accession Negotiations are just opened and we are going through the legislation scaning process. Meanwhile, pursuant to the new Enlargement Strategy, when failures and contraventions to the EU “ Acquis Communitaire are found, they would “ whip us with sticks” including even the suspension of negotiations and reversing the process from the very beginning! The EU bells toll loudly for those who want to listen but, first and foremost, for the government!
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