In an exclusive interview for Top Story, the first after he left Albania
two years ago and retired, John Withers spoke openly about what is
going on in our country. Asked by journalist Sokol Balla of how he sees
Albania two years after, Withers says that things have deteriorated even
further and Albania is on the edge. Withers starts his critics with the
new president.
John Withers, former US Ambassador: I am not speaking about Bujar Nishani as an individual, but as a man in the role of Mr. Nishani. He is as the Prime Minister had promised, a loyal man to the Democratic Party. There’s nothing wrong being loyal to the Democratic Party, but in the climate and circumstances that Albania is facing today, we don’t know if Nishani will be able to show that he is independent in case he will have to go against the Prime Minister’s will. I am very skeptical that he will be able to do this.
Withers adds that he is even more skeptical if he sees what loyalty means for many politicians, which is that they follow the Prime Minister, whatever he says.
Withers: If you don’t have a personal view and the will to defend these views, you will easily turn into a “Yes man” for everything. The question is who will the President appoint in important roles and will they stand against the Democratic Party caprices? Because this is how Nishani has created the reputation of his career, together with Lulzim Basha and others.
Ambassador Withers says that the immunity must be lifted, but he sees as very dangerous the way how the Prime Minister is warning to use it. It might be a political instrument for the Prime Minister to attack the opposition. Withers asked why Berisha did not start a major war against corruption in the last seven years. He adds that not having an independent justice system would be a very great risk, a big threat for the democracy. The concentrated power on the hands of one political party or individual is considered a suffocation of democracy.
Withers: For the moment, Albania is on the edge. If judges or the people of justice are appointed based on political criteria, or if they owe something to the government to the point that they cannot object any of their desires, then this is dangerous, because the judiciary is used for political goals and for fulfilling the justice mission. This doesn’t happen only in Albania. Look at Putin and what he is doing in Russia. Look at what is happening in Hungaria, Romania and Georgia. Look at what is happening in Ukraine. There is an omnipotent politician who arrested the political opponent and speaks on behalf of the people, by ordering the courts to act that way. This is that slow sliding towards a bad situation. For three years I have insisted that the institutions must be independent. This independence is going off each day more.
Withers says that he doesn’t see at the Albanian leadership a view for the best of the country. He sees politicians and government members who are dominating the power.
Withers: What bothers me is with what is happening today with Albania. Not only is it damaging Albania’s place in NATO, but also the lifestyle of the people today. They are not damaging only the democracy structure of today, but also the future of their children.
The former US ambassador says that the country needs free and honest elections, not manipulations, not a change of the rules or domination at the Central Election Commission or the Electoral College.
Withers: The solutions must come from within your country. You asked me earlier if I was missing PM Berisha. I don’t know what he thinks or what problems he has with me. Berisha is an extraordinary person. It’s just that I don’t agree with the policies that he tries to implement. Going against these policies doesn’t mean that I support any other platform or political force.
To the question of what are the Albanians risking, Withers answer that it is completely up to the Albanians.
Withers: I am not talking here about radical actions, such as demonstration. I am categorically against violence, since it is the last resort in very extreme cases. I am speaking about simple actions. The Albanians must raise their voice. There’s nothing more powerful in the history of humanity than freedom. If people will stay quiet and indifferent against essential things, it means that they are losing freedom. If people complain for the way how their government is ruling, or if they say that they are not bad because it could be worse, or if they say that they cannot do anything, then people can do extraordinary things. The Albanians like conspiracies, as many other people. But the biggest conspiracy is silence.
As for Tirana’s May 8th local elections, Withers brings questions about the way how Basha won.
Withers: It was very strange and unjustifiable. Changing the rules during the voting process means that this is not the path that democracy follows. The court system and the Electoral College showed no interest for the law and the Central Election Commission seemed that it helped the majority. The question of who won these elections is still open. As regards your question, this is a question that the Albanians must make to themselves.
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