EU calls for consensus

TIRANA, April 19 – Michael Leigh, enlargement head of the European Commission, held a two-day visit to the country to meet with all top albanian officials. He is in a regional tour trying to intensify the bloc’s dialogue with possible candidate members.
President Alfred Moisiu’s meeting with Leigh was concentrated on further strengthening of the country’s ties with the EU and its efforts to fulfill the required standards toward becoming a full member. Moisiu said that the country was fully committed in such a path. He said that Albania has made important steps in realizing the reforms for the political stability, rule of law and economy. He said everyone was aware that much remained to be done and the country had many challenges in the future steps but all those needed a consensus and the cooperation of the political forces.
Leigh had a special meeting with Prime Minister Sali Berisha to discuss the work of the executive, the country’s reform toward itnegration into the European Union. Berisha made an expose of the reforms, the fight against organized crime and corruiption u to the digital practice and strategies in different spheres aiing to get the country nearer EU. Leigh said that the visit also served to make an evaluation of the interim agreement that has come into force between the country and the EU, and also to discuss the government’s program on the economic and political reforms, and also the approximation of legislation with that of the bloc. Organized crime and corruption are naturally among top issues any international official visits the tiny Balkan country. The EU has created this year a new financial instrument of assisting pre-membership countries. “We are ready to offer all the financial instruments, to cooperate also with the European Investment bank to support Albania’s economic and political reforms,” said leigh at a news conference after meeting with Berisha. Leigh said that the EU did not interfere in the internal political affairs of the country but closely monitored its development adding he had tried to promote consesnsus in his meeting with albanian officials.
Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj thanked leigh for the EC’s readiness to sign the visa facilitation deal with the country. Mustafaj also urged Leigh that the deal comes into power earlier and not expect all the other countries sign the readmission agreement with Brussels, something which Tirana was the first to comply with.
Leigh also met with Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu reassuring her of the bloc’s continuous support and that of the international institutions in the country’s reforms toward integration. Leigh reminded Albanian authorities they should pay special attention to the Copenhagen Charter which means there is needed consensus and dialogue among the political forces in the country.
When Leigh met with opposition Socialist leader Edi Rama he learnt that the opposition would not support any candidate of the majority for the post of president. Rama stressed there was a lack of will from the government to comply with the required reforms and that the executive was dismantling mechanisms of democracy. “The opposition has a package of reforms which has never been considered seriously by the prime minister. That shows a lack of will from the majority to collaborate on major interest of the country,” Rama told Leigh.
Moisiu and all the other Albanian officials did not forget to discuss on the Kosova issue repeating that Tirana supported Marti Ahtisaari’s proposal for Kosova’s independence adding that the delay of the solution of the status would create threats from the extremist forces on both sides, while a sustainable solution would generate peace and stability in the region.
Albania signed the Stab libation and Association Agreement with the European Union in June 12, 2006, considered as a first step though it has not set any date when the country could become a candidate. The SAA has to be ratified by all the EU member countries.
On Saturday parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli announced that the Polish parliament was the last to have ratified the SAA following that of Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Sweden, Belgium and next week expected to be done by Hungary, by the end of the month from Estonia and Germany and Austria in May. “With such rhythms Albania and Albanians feel very well. Despite many debates at the EU on its expansion Albania managed to have such a success,” she said.