Fleckenstein: “Elections, good opportunity for negotiations. No buying of votes”

TCH: Mr.Fleckenstein, what are your main concerns about Albania?

Knut Fleckenstein, rapporteur for Albania at the European Commission: These are not real concerns. We have seen progress in various areas, especially with the five key priorities. Certainly, this progress could have been faster. We all know that these reforms require some time and we need to give time to the government and parliament to decide, and, above everything else, to implement these reforms.

TCH: Do you think that the progress, including the thorough analyze of the judiciary, which has plenty of cases for review, is enough to have a positive recommendation from the Commission this Autumn?

Fleckenstein: I am not sure if a positive recommendation this Autumn would guarantee the EU Council votes. But the analyze is the first necessary step. We need to continue with two other phases. It is up to the government and the parliament to make the necessary changes, which are very important. The third step is related to the implementation, which, as we know, is the most complicated.

TCH: Do you agree with the US Ambassador in Tirana, who says there are persons with criminal past leading some state institutions?

Fleckenstein: I agree in some way, since we know there are still problems.

TCH: Do you have a concrete name?

Fleckenstein: If these opinions are expressed so openly by the US Ambassador, I believe he will give the specific names. Otherwise, these are only words. Otherwise, we would not be discussing about the decriminalization of the Parliament members or in other public posts.

TCH: We will have the local elections this Sunday. What is your message to the Albanian people and what do you expect from the political parties to show in these elections?

Fleckenstein: The first message is that these elections are a perfect possibility to show that Albania is ready to start the accession reforms, that the parties can hold elections of international standards, do not sell vote, have reasonable candidates and that the final result is accepted by all parties.

TCH: Do you expect decriminalization to be treated with these elections, or in the next elections for the new Parliament?

Fleckenstein: We said last December that this issue needs to be resolved certainly for the next Parliament. Earlier it would be wonderful, btu this is the date when the majority and the opposition must hand over their projects”.

Prepared by: Arta Tozaj

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