Top Story, Withers’ letter. “Cables don’t lie”

Wikileaks published US Embassy cables that ambassador Withers had sent to the US State Department, in which he criticized the activity of Berisha’s government, especially for the Gerdec tragedy, the attacks against the Prosecution and media, together with corruption of high rank officials, which brought a big shock in the Albanian public.

Withers says that it was necessary for him to write this letter, for clarifying, without any misunderstandings, all the suggestions he had sent to the State Department.

Lisen Bashkurti: “A clear letter that opens public’s eyes”

“The former Ambassador and leader of the Diplomacy Academy, Lisen Bashkurti, says that the content of the letter has a very clear and unprecedented mission. It is a benevolent and friendly letter, which after the cables should make all of us reflect.  What we must understand, is that Withers represents a diplomacy that after the Wikilekas phenomenon has shown that it works better than all other diplomacies in the world. The cables must not be put in question. His stance is not unique, bearing in mind that Mrs. Clinton and the State Department have declared that they do not comment on the cables. I think that the publishing of this letter was forced by the way our political class interpreted it. They declared that the cables were suspicious, unilateral and personalized”

Shpëtim Nazarko: Americans couldn’t remain silent after January 21st

“After the January 21st events, the Americans couldn’t keep supporting the Albanian government without conditions. If they would do this, they would lose their privileged positions in Albania, which they cannot afford for the sake of a Prime Minister that comes and goes. I guarantee you that those cables are a big problem for the US government. Albania is a trusted ally, but this doesn’t mean that they must close their eyes when democracy is being violated and corruption is happening in shocking levels. Withers could have remained silent, and his stance would have been defended by the US embassy in Tirana. His position is unique, that of an experienced diplomat. The Americans have lost points with January 21st and the local elections, with their tolerant stance. The cables show that however, on the backstage, their diplomacy didn’t support it. This shows that the Americans don’t have a special affection for any specific politician, and Withers’ letter has only one big message: the cables don’t lie.”

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