Berisha speaks of successes in the fight against crime

TIRANA, Sept. 24 – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha paid special attention at this hour-long speech Sunday on the government successes in the fight against organized crime and crime in general. “A year ago Albania was dominated from criminal groups and organizations that were among the richest in Europe,” said Berisha. He named the clans of Koka, Zemuni, Aldo Bare, Nehat Kulla, Lul Berisha, Cobo, Kuqo and many others that had Tirana, Durres, Lushnja, Berat and other towns under control and that had turned Albania into a main route from drug and other traffic. Berisha said that they were in close connection with the previous Socialist government officials and especially he accused Prosecutor General Theodhori Sollaku as being ‘caught’ by the crime networks. These groups and organizations had executed and kidnapped, robbed and terrorized thousands of citizens, businessmen, domestic and foreign journalists line in no other country in Europe. They had blackened Albania’s name and image. With their links up to the highest levels of the cleptocratic system they were among the most powerful decision-takers in the country,” said Berisha. The premier added that due to the ‘zero tolerance’ declared from his government to the crime, due to the courage, professionalism, commitment of police officers, intelligent services, prosecutors and judges, now “Albania is a calm and safe country.” He mentioned the arrest or destruction of many criminal organizations in Durres, Tirana, Lushnja, Shkodra, Elbasan, Korca, Tropoja, etc. with the arrest of their bosses. Government authorities have sequestered some euro15 million of assets belonging to them. More than 1,000 persons were put under arrest for grave crimes. The government passed the law on the responsibility of the local administration in the case of finding drugs planted in their areas. Berisha added that there was an ‘excellent’ collaboration with international counterparts. Fighting human traffic was another point of priority set from the government. The government also passed the three-year moratorium to stop use of speedboats. Many other measures have been undertaken at the Rinasi/Mother Teresa international airport and border crossings. Fundamental results in the fight against organized crime released from the burden of danger and threat not only citizens in the areas controlled by crime before but the whole country, according to Berisha. “These results had a very positive impact in the international arena and Albania’s image in the world,” he said. “Successes of this fight not only made safer the life of the Albanian citizens but also opened the doors and made possible the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union.” Berisha also considered as a good consequence of these results the increase of tourist number by 30 percent this summer compared to a year ago. “Albania had a tourist season among the calmest in Europe,” he said.