Mustafaj: Status, “de facto” was not achieved

The former Foreign Minister, Besnik Mustafaj, was invited on Top Channel’s main news edition. When asked if the conditioned status can be considered that Albania has received the status, Mustafaj declared:

“This formula has never been used by the EU and there is no room for euphoria. This is the least that we must understand. The situation is better than three years ago. It is a small step forward, but we have received no status until December, when it will be decided what steps are taken by Albania. The formula that was used was some kind of pressure, using the soft and harsh manners on the same time. Until December, the European Commission will encourage cooperation and dialogue between the parties through this formula. Brussels knows that the Parliament doesn’t work in a very democratic way. The democratic situation must be normalized. Secondly, we have an essential problem with justice, and for this cooperation is encouraged so that we can deliver the Supreme Court reform, which will make it a supreme court that gives just and incontestable decision. The formula encourages the cooperation between the opposition and the majority”.

When asked what a status without negotiations means, Mustafaj declared that there is non such thing.

“There is no status without negotiations. Albania is a candidate country when the negotiations have started. This marks the passage to a new phase of the relations with the EU member countries. For as long that the negotiation of the 35 chapters has not started, the status cannot be considered achieved.

As for the Prime Minister’s proposition to change the Albanian hymn, Mustafaj declared that there is nothing to be concerned about, since Berisha is asking to include to the current hymn only the two verses that had been removed by the communist regime and that are part of the original text.

As for the hunger strike of the political prisoners, Mustafaj declared that he is very concern and the government is not behaving with dignity and democracy, by even going against its words. He considered it a personal arrogance of Berisha that goes against the spirit and identity of the Democratic Party.

Top Channel