Kukan and Fleckenstein: Government and opposition must cooperate

TCH: Two months before the elections you talk about political confrontation and how it puts in danger the path towards the European Union, but you fell still in the game of party games, especially you, Mr.Kukan, who are still dealing with Albania when S&D had another rapporteur, Mr.Roucek, and he was even more difficult than Mr.Fleckenstein to accept your compromises, right?
 
Kukan: “I think that the most important think for the moment is good and close cooperation between the two biggest poliical parties in the European Parliament. It is important for then European Parliament to speak in unanimity about everything that has been addressed to Albania. The main condition is that we want Albania to progress towards the EU. I value the resolution for the strong political message it gives to the Albanian leaders, the message that the country is progressing and the European institutions, the European Parliament, want more progress in order to go to the other phase, which means a date for the accession negotiations. On the same way, our political message speaks about the need to continue the political dialogue with the culture of compromise, and continue the reforms by really focsing on the European agenda. There is a good will from the European Parliament, which should be taken positively and in a constructive way by the Albanian political forces.
 
Fleckenstein, Rapoprteur for Albania at the European Parliament: “First of all, this committee voted with an impressive majority in favor of Albania’s path to the EU. I think that we encouraged the government and the opposition to continue with what they have started, although there is still much work to be done, so that we can start the negotiations as soon as possible. Secondly, we underline how important it is for a democratic country to have all parties to at least try to find compromise with each other. Certainly, this is a bit more difficult before the elections, but it also shows that you are on the right path. Let’s see.

 
TCH: Are you concerned  by the participation of people with a criminal past in these elections? There have been accusations from the opposition.
 
Fleckenstein: There are not only accusations from the opposition, but also accusations against the opposition. I am not a crime advisor or a Prosecutor. We will see them, since we are interested, but I cannot give any comment on any specific person for the moment.
 
TCH: Do you see the move of the Ministry of Interior to address the Prosecution against the opposition leader, Lulzim Basha, as a legal or political action? They are calling him responsible for falsifying documents and giving illegal orders as Minister of Interior for the June 21st events.
 
Kukan: “Let’s wait for the results of an objective evaluation on this, and also for any other case. I don’t want to start details about their accusations. I have heard about special cases by both parties, but it looks like decriminalization is perceived as very important for the opponents, not for their own party. I want to underline that when we were in Albania, we talked about these things and we reached an agreement. Both parties should work more on this direction. Jumping to conclusions would be premature.
 
Fleckenstein: If you would know the results weeks or months earlier, we would be able to answer this question.
 
TCH: If you expect the Albanian authorities to deal with the decriminalization and elections, why the election of the Audiovisual Media Authority leader is si important for you that you don’t raise it as your concern, but as that of the Albanian opposition?

Kukan: “These things need to be resolved in a clear way and in cooperation with the opposition. When we talk about media freedom, there should be a consensual decision making, or that would create problems”.

TCH: Mr.Kukan, when Belgrade expresses the will to send soldiers in Moscow, it seems like you use softer tones on the impact that this decision might have on their integration process. With Albania it seems that there is a harsher language, not only by you, as we saw after the interview of Prime Minister Rama regarding Kosovo. Did you see that as an effort to attract the attention of the Albanian and EU public?
 
Kukan: “I have been quoted in the media as being concerned about it. Yes, I am concerned when there is any declaration about a Greater Albania or a Greater Hungary. I am concerned and that makes me nervous. But whenever your Prime Minister or any other politician mentions the unification of the Albanians in Kosovo and Albania through the EU, I am happy about it. But it should stop there. If there is speculation for any unification, I should be more than concerned”.

Fleckenstein: We should speak only about Greater Europe. Albania is a good NATO ally. There is nothing to discuss about this. Secondly, not every interview is helping the European path. We expressed our concern today that the interview you are referring to brings misunderstandings, but I will discuss it with him when I meet him.

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