TIRANA – As the political atmosphere has ‘heated up’ particularly after the demolition of the National Theatre last Sunday morning with violent protests around the scene of the crumbles of the building where there are a few key government institutions, the diplomatic corps has shown signs of concerns fearing apparently a worsening of the situation in Albania at a time when the coronavirus pandemic and its repercussions are very serious.
The Ambassadors of the EU countries have appeared more active meeting the key state, government and party figures. And it is a right move as Albania is a country which is on track to start the accession talks with the Union in the next months.
It is also obvious the energetic engagement of the US Ambassador, Yuri Kim who has focused her attention to the justice reform not only through meetings with politicians but speaking on social networks in an ambiguous way some times. In an interview with a local TV on May 12, her first since being appointed in Tirana, Ms. Kim said that the thought that there are leaders who do not want the justice reform although she did not mention any names.
But what drew the attention of the public opinion is her last post on Twitter on Thursday after meeting the key state and government figures in which she referred to ‘rumors of a back-room’ deal to kill justice reform in Albania.
Below is the full post on the Twitter account of Ambassador Kim: “I hope there is no truth to rumors of a back-room deal to kill justice reform in Albania. Reform is painful, slow and imperfect, but it is necessary, making progress and must continue.”
In another post she congratulated the three prosecutors on their oath before President Ilir Meta on Thursday. The full text of the tweet is as following: “Congratulations to the 3 prosecutors on their oath today before Pres@ilirmetazyrtar for promotion to Special Prosecutors Office. Looking forward to 3 more to make SPO complete. Progress in justice reform must be accelerated step by step.”
The reference of the US Ambassador on ‘rumors of a back-room deal to kill justice reform’ prompted like never before reactions by the highest Albanian officials with the first one being Prime Minister Edi Rama who posted on his Twitter: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare.” Further on PM Rama says that he agrees with Ambassador Kim that the reform is painful and slow, but very important.
It was quick the prompt comment of the Democratic Party (DP) chairman Lulzim Basha on the note of Washington’s top diplomat to Tirana warning that any constitutional or legal changes regarding justice reform by the current parliament are illegitimate.
The full comment of Basha replying to Kim’s post is as following: “Any constitutional or legal changes regarding justice reform by the current parliament are illegitimate. Such changes serve only those who use their power to twist and undermine the reform and to politically control and capture the justice system.”
In the meantime in her reaction on a TV show on Thursday evening the chairwoman of the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), Monika Kryemadhi said she was happy that Ambassador Kim had understood the reality that there is a deal to destroy the justice reform in Albania. “The justice reform is impeded by the gangs of crime together with Rama… The Ambassador is realizing that there is a pact between Rama and the world of crime,” said Kryemadhi.
Like never before a comment by a US diplomatic envoy in Tirana received the prompt reactions of the highest politicians of Albania, who applauded what she said but they all targeted the arrows towards adversaries.
US Ambassador’s three- line note on the rumors on a ‘back-room deal’ but especially the reaction of Albanian highest politicians prompt anyone to recall what Ms. Kim said on some political leaders in the last week’s TV interview who, according to her, do not want the reform in judiciary… So the question remains answered: Is there a back-room deal to kill justice reform in Albania? /argumentum.al
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