Brussels, “An attracting Albania”

“Do your homework. If you do your homework, it will be valued sooner or later. Don’t look around, but do your homework, complete the reforms and be consistent with them. Whatever will be the result of the European elections, I think that your work will be valued and it will bring results for your country. I know that it is difficult, and it will be even more difficult, but this is life. It wasn’t easy for us when we negotiated. No one will make things easier. There is no shortcut. You must fulfill everything, and Croatia learned this too. It is not indispensable to fulfill the criteria at 100%. For you it is indispensable to fulfill them at 125%, before you are accepted at the European Union. This is the truth and we must speak openly. The green light from the European Council might come in June, or later this year to be more realistic”, declared Eduard Kukan, head of the European Parliament for Balkan.

Kukan explained that the two main political groups at the European Parliament share the same stance on Albania. When asked about the preception of an unlimited support for the European Popular Parties to the Democratic Party, as the European Social Democrats do with the Socialist Party. “Help us help you”, declared rapporteur Vuljanic, focusing his speech on the political class, corruption and the judiciary.

“Let us help you. The Albanian politicians must come here with a strong stance on Albania’s important issues; with a joint stance and not with one stance from the Democratic Party, and another from the Socialist Party. No. The stance of Albania. This would help a lot, first of all. As regards the judiciary and bringing the corrupted people to justice, it is not that easy. It is important for people to understand that corruption is bad, and those who do bad things will get caught, sooner or later. They must be sure that they will be caught. If you know that someone has committed a murder, what are you expecting from others? We are not speaking about accidental deaths, but four people were killed on the streets, in broad daylight, and nothing has happened for two or three years. It cannot be like this. This requires a judiciary that is not influenced by politicians. This is key to the functionality of a country”, Vuljanic declared.

This is the second time that the Head of the Delegation for Balkan, Eduard Kukan, in cooperation with the Albanian-Belgian association “Konica”, organize such an activity at the European Parliament. The first initiative was one year ago, for the 100th anniversary of independence. This time the guests had 40 bottles of Albanian wine, from four different brands. The wine was transported by bus by the Italian Andrea La Lacono, who had learned Albanian in the Shkoder bazaar for years.

Prepared by: ARTA TOZAJ

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