January 21st killings, unimaginable

“I think that the Danish Minister expressed the general feeling of many people who were following this case closely and with great care. I don’t think that it is right to comment the decisions of the Albanian courts, but I will say that corruption is a very serious problem in Albania. I have followed the case and I know that there were experts from the West, the US, who made tests that were not taken in consideration before the final decision. This is what contributed in my surprise”, Kukan declared.

“I was surprised by the decision that showed that not everything was made for seeing if the video was manipulated or not. I think that it was in Mr. Meta’s interest too, to invite independent experts from abroad, to verify if there are manipulations or not. I was surprised that this request was rejected, but I hope that this could be corrected again, because we must learn the truth. Not the partial truth, but the objective one”, Swoboda declared.

As for the tragic events of January 21st, the European MPs ask a complete and independent investigation, without political interferences. Asked by Top Channel on what would have happened in their countries in a similar case, Kukan replied: “This situation is out of any kind of imagination. It cannot happen in my country. There have been demonstrations, and there are still massive demonstrations of people, but the police have acted according to the law.”

Swoboda declared: “I think that any kind of murder will be investigated and would be brought to court. I don’t think that the justice system in Austria and other countries is perfect, but when there are murders, when protesters are killed, the least that could happen is that the killers would be brought to court and trialed by an independent justice. While the politicians, they are there to guarantee that justice will be served”.

Asked about the main developments in the country, despite the recent agreements between the majority and the opposition, the representatives of the two main groups of the European Parliament seek concrete results, because they see a slow progress from Albania for the EU integration. Kukan and Swoboda criticize the pressures towards independent institutions and media independence. They also express their respective stances for the election of a consensual President.

Prepared by: ARTA TOZAJ

Top Channel