Immunity lifting, Arvizu meets Rama

“The focus of our discussion was the immunity law. I would like to share with you some points about how the USA feel about the immunity law. Our position has been for removing immunity as a step for fighting corruption and bringing high rank officials to accountability. Lifting the immunity is only one step closer to others step that should be taken, steps that block the political interventions in the judiciary system. As regards time, these measures are up to the Albanian politics”, Arvizu declared.

How can we reach acceptable elections? Although he withdrew from the idea to finish up the reform by August sixth, Arvizu underlined that the final draft must include the recommendations of all parties and be acceptable for all parties.

“The draft amends are a good start. They are based on the PACA and EURALIUS recommendations. I noted the witnesses of the international experts in the Saturday’s session. Although USSA was not formally present there, we share the same position with the stances of these organisms. According to us, the representatives of both parties must converge in their views. We want the Albanian politics to cooperate and include the ideas that were presented this Saturday. They should plan a draft that coordinates these ideas and that is widely accepted by the people and politics. Removing the immunity is only one step, and we need to take other steps for preventing power abuses. I cant say that August 6th deadline is enough for radical amends in the Constitution, and I see no reason why they cannot be treated in September,. but they must be treated”, Arvizu declared.

The Socialist leader, Edi Rama, declared that he is clarifying the stance of the opposition which favors lifting the immunity, but not amending the Constitution with other laws.

“We have set no conditions and we don’t do bargains. We have presented a clear vision that the country needs a constitutional amend. We are witnesses today that corruption has spread everywhere and its roots are at the government, with the organized crime that cooperates with Albanian government. Each time that there are corruption-related cases, the parliamentary immunity has not been an obstacle that it lifting will still not guarantee honest trials. We will not amend the Constitution in August and then do other amends”, Rama commented.

He added that the debates about the immunity lifting are futile.

“We are ready for real reforms and for essential changes. I despise the propaganda of the Prime Minister who asks for consensus and attacks with a very bad language. We have no respect for Berisha’s appeals”, Rama declared.

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