“Berisha fears Gerdec”

This information comes from a cable that the US Embassy sent on 24 October 2008, through which Mr. Jones is asked by the US embassy to transmit the message of Washington to Prime Minister Berisha for stopping the attacks against the General Prosecution, who is conducting the “Gerdec” case on top of her agenda.

“Your visit comes at a time of growing uncertainty for the Albanian public and especially for Albania’s political class.  Although the past year and a half – a period bookended by President Bush’s visit to Albania and U.S. ratification of Albania’s NATO invitation – has been repeatedly hailed by the GOA as confirmation of Albania’s emergence into the Euroatlantic community, the visit and invitation are now yesterday’s news”, says the beginning of the cable.

“Increasingly, Albanians are focusing on next year’s parliamentary elections as well as trying to gauge (and manage to their own advantage) the fallout from the nearly-completed investigations into the Gerdec explosion and into alleged corruption involving the Durres-Kukes road project.

Although still firmly in charge of both his Democratic Party (DP) and government, Prime
Minister Sali Berisha faces growing discontent within the DP as potential successors maneuver for position.  Under growing pressure from the investigations, Berisha has become increasingly erratic in recent months, lashing out at the Prosecutor General’s Office and judiciary in an attempt to limit political and potentially criminal damage to himself, his family and his allies”, the cable continues.

What position should Jones express to Prime Minister Berisha, is suggested below:

“During your bilateral meetings you will have the opportunity to deliver the message straight from Washington that ongoing government attempts to intimidate prosecutors, control the judiciary, and take greater control over the country’s intelligence services as well as the free media, are unacceptable.  Such actions not only threaten Albania’s NATO aspirations, but also risk doing long-term damage to the bilateral relationship.”

The US embassy warns Stuart Jones that Berisha and FM Basha will spare no effort in using his visit to prove to Albanians that all is well with the bilateral relationship.  

“Your public and private comments will need to be carefully calibrated to show in no uncertain terms that although we remain Albania’s committed friend and ally, we will not stand by silently as the GOA tries to roll back hard-won democratic reforms”, the document continues.
 
 
The second part of the cable analyzes the figure of Berisha, saying:

“The key meeting during your visit will be your bilat with Prime Minister Berisha.  Although many in
Berisha’s own party increasingly see him as a political liability, he remains firmly in control of both the party and the Albanian government.  A hard worker and micromanager, no important decision within the government is made without his approval.  We have every reason to believe that recent attempts to seize files from the Prosecutor General’s Office and threaten prosecutors with arrest were approved by Berisha himself.  As the Gerdec investigation nears completion, it appears increasingly likely that Berisha’s son could be implicated – an outcome that would be politically devastating to Berisha and have
potential criminal consequences for his son Shkelzen.”
 
“Fear of this outcome is what is likely driving Berisha’s increasingly anti-democratic behavior – behavior that will likely only intensify as the investigation continues.  Berisha will need to hear from you in the most direct terms that his ongoing attempts to undermine independent institutions are unacceptable, and that we will not stand aside and allow him to damage Albania’s vibrant, yet still fragile democracy”, the cable continues.

“Berisha must also hear the message that next year’s elections will be a key indicator of how serious Albania is about democracy, and that even a technically botched election will be seen not as a simple technical problem but as a lack of political will and seriousness about democratic norms”, the document goes on.

In this informative cable, the US has also included Edi Rama, with the subtitle: “Edi Rama, next Prime Minister?”

“Your meeting with Tirana Mayor Edi Rama will give you an opportunity to meet the man who could be Albania’s next Prime Minister.  Over the past two years Rama has worked hard to boost his and his party’s image across the country, in hopes of winning next year’s parliamentary elections.  Rama and his Socialist Party have been enthusiastic supporters of Albania’s NATO aspirations and of a strong relationship with the U.S.  However, many within Rama’s own party are growing impatient with Rama’s seeming reluctance to aggressively confront Berisha over Gerdec.”

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