Fule: 2012, your integration opportunity

This optimism is based on the cooperation of the government and the opposition for fulfilling the 12 European Commission recommendations. Fule says that 2012 has opened a window for Albania to make a big step in the enlargement process.

“2011 wasn’t the best year, so that Albania could fulfill the 12 recommendations. But now I feel the wind of change and I hope that this chance will become real by the end of this year”, Fule declared.

But what must Albania to for receiving the EU confirmation by November, after two years of waiting?

Fule answered to this question after meeting the main political leaders, Sali Berisha and Edi Rama, who declared that they will support the integration agenda without reserves.

“I agreed with the Prime Minister that the November agreement between the two parties must be finalized. I am very happy that we were able to reach a common understanding for two important issues. First, the government’s commitment, a commitment that I also heard from the Socialist leader, Edi Rama, for concluding the electoral reform and Parliamentary reform process, before starting the procedures for the presidential election”, Fule declared.

Fule set this deadline so that the reforms and the presidential election do not interfere with each other.

“This will be very important, because it will guarantee that the presidential election will be part of the solution, and not part of the problem, if the November agenda remains unfulfilled”, Fule declared.

Rama promised to Fule that the opposition is fully committed to push the EU agenda forward and conclude the reforms in time. The other promise that Commissioner Fule received from Tirana, was from PM Berisha about the presidential election.

“The second and very important element is the Prime Minister’s commitment for making the presidential election negotiable”, Fule declared.

This promise was made public by PM Berisha too, but he refused to specify if this “negotiable process” meant that there would be a consensual president, or one elected only with the votes of the majority.

“No one should prejudge a negotiable process. We must wish to have a process with a good result, or it would be useless to even undertake it. That’s all I can comment”, Berisha declared.

It is still too soon to determine how the presidential negotiations will conclude, but it is certain that all politicians will dialogue with each other: Edi Rama with Sali Berisha and Edi Rama with Ilir Meta. The Prime Minister says that he will meet Edi Rama before the presidential election procedures, after the meeting will be prepared by the respective staffs. Berisha underlined that these negotiations have no conflict of interest, implying that the negotiators should declare the same thing, before the negotiations start.

“I will reply positively to every invitation, and I value the invitation of Mr. Rama. I think that all of you must value the fact that from all political leaders in Albania, I am the only one saying that I will not run for President”, Berisha declared.

Fule made it clear that a condition for receiving the EU candidate status are the 12 key recommendations that Brussels gave for Albania, and that the presidential election will be analyzed in Brussels as a sign of maturity for the Albanian politics.

I haven’t come to give advises or lecture on how this procedure should be held. This process belongs only to you. But on the same time, I want to use this occasion for saying that the presidential election should reflect the Constitution spirit and should represent, as the Constitution says, the unity of the people”, Fule declared.

Fule’s advices in Parliament

The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fule, underlined that Albania must commit and fulfill all conditions set by the EU for the integration.

Speaking in front of the Albanian MPs in a Parliamentary session, the Commissioner underlined four points that the political class must make a good use of the remaining period for continuing with the EU progress.

“I want to underline the importance of the electoral reform, the role that the Parliament must play in it, the rule of law and the human rights”, Fule declared.

The Commission valued the consensus reached in Parliament by emphasizing that experience has shown that the integration can be achieved only when there is consensus for the main issues and for a long term.

Top Channel