“Return to the integration agenda”

He organized a ceremony with colleagues, ministers and Dutch citizens who live in Albania.

Top Channel interviewed Mr.De La Beij, and he declared that he is leaving Albania after two years, happy and proud that he was part of the important changes that took place here, such as the political rotation and the candidate status.

Martin De La Beij answered if the European Integration agenda, after the candidate status, seems to have been eclipsed by the internal political developments.

“I see a small problem here. There has been some kind of slowdown after the decision of this June. Then summer was used for internal political issues that ended up to harsh debates. I hope that the focus will return on important reforms for the integration, especially the justice reform, which is one of the five conditions in the agenda, before opening the EU membership negotiations. I hope that the European agenda will be taken in consideration once again, and will be treated as more important than the internal political isues, that unfortunately are being held outside the Parliament. I want to underline that democracy works very well if these debates are held inside the Parliament. This is the place where discussions should be held”, De La Beij declared.

Ju just said that the debates should be held within the Parliament. What do you think about the opposition’s boycott?

“We have seen it happen in the past, and this has not helped with Albania’s image in Europe. This is happening again, but I hope that this vicious circle of boycott will end. The politicians should start a dialogue, and this should come from both parties. This is not only up to the opposition, but also to the government, which has the duty to include the opposition as well. Then it is up to the opposition to build a constructive behavior to reach their objectives”, the ambassador declared.

Do you see the arrest of Governor Fullani as an important test for the Albanian justice?

“This is a test in two senses. First of all to have independence and quality in the functionality of the Bank of Albania, as an independent institution. This has a special importance. The Prosecution and the legal process should be allowed to show that they have the capacities to deal with such important issues”.

Top Channel