The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, in an interview from Warsaw for
Top Channel’s Chief Editor, Sokol Balla, said that efforts for consensus
with the justice reform are undergoing and that the majority is open,
but without touching the “vetting part” of it, which they consider the
core of the reform.
He says hat the recent proposition of the Democratic Party damages exactly this point of the justice reform. The Socialist Movement for Integration, Rama says, shares the same stance with the government and will vote it.
Sokol Balla: How much did you pay this time for a handshake with Obama?
Edi Rama: Unfortunately, there are people in Albania, vested with power and with other means, who think and believe that everything can be sold or bought.
Sokol Balla: Someone might say that Rama wants to show off with his contacts with Obama, Merkel or Erdogan. But what good could this bring to Albania?
Edi Rama: Of course that these meetings reflect the relations of Albania, which is seen with respect.
Sokol Balla: Good relations with international leaders is not what keeps one in power, but Albanians make it look like it. We are in a critical moment now that July 21st is getting closer. It is the day when you need to vote for the Justice Reform. Have you received any concrete proposition from the Democratic Party that has changed from the last one?
Edi Rama: Our efforts for consensus have been very persistent. We don’t want a consensus that can deform the draft or that divides us from the international partners. The possibility to pass the reform is very real. The government and I are ready to vote a solution that doesn’t deform the essence. There is no need for me to underline how the essence is damaged. The international partners have been doing it constantly.
Sokol Balla: You keep saying that the DP goes against the USA and the EU. Don’t you think that their concern is genuine, since this draft is for us and not for America?
Edi Rama: The USA, the White House, the EU, the German Chancellor, the President of France, etc, would never support a draft that allows me to use the system, as the DP claims.
Sokol Balla: Or even them. Why should international partners have absolute decision-making rights in this process, since we are a sovereign country?
Edi Rama: This is not about absolute decision-making rights. This is about active participation in the process. If we think that the international strategic partners want to harm us, the countries without whom we wouldn’t be here today, then this conversation cannot continue.
Sokol Balla: Would you accept if Victoria Nuland recommends a change of this draft?
Edi Rama: It is not about recommending us do something, because we are not separated from our partners. Our experts are still looking for solutions for the DP to come and vote.
Sokol Balla: You said the government is unified. Do you have Ilir Meta for this?
Edi Rama: I believe what I have reiterated, that SP and SMI will vote the reform.
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