Topi says 2012 important for national reconciliation

TIRANA, Jan. 2 – In his end-of-the-year interview President Bamir Topi said he has had a successful mandate in his post adding that he would continue to be active in the country’s politics even after that term is over.
Speaking to Deutsche Welle radio, Topi said that the fact that the Constitutional Court had never turned down any of his decisions was a good show on his success.
Topi said that 2012 was a very important year when Albania would celebrate its 100th anniversary of independence. He said that should also be exploited as a time for rethinking the relations between the people, politicians and the institutions so that the country turns into a really modern democratic state in the European family. Though it is not open, Topi is expected to continue his political life possibly in a new rightist grouping that may be founded this spring. The president is in bad terms with the governing Democratic party, once his political grouping, led from Prime Minister Sali Berisha whom he once served as his deputy.
It is almost clear that he is not welcome back there as Berisha has repeatedly said he had better terms with the opposition socialists.
But Berisha is also afraid if Topi moves into politics this time with a new rightist grouping, which may take off some ballots from his party.
Topi has intensified his meetings with the former political persecuted and the old landowners.
The president hailed the return of the two main political groupings _ the governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist party of Edi Rama _ to the table of dialogue and parliamentary cooperation.
The political deadlock was considered as the main negative factor for the country failure to get the EU’s candidate status.
Topi also said that the opposition protest in Jan. 21, in which four protesters were shot dead, was a grave event which also negatively affected the country’s integration steps into the European Union.
Europe said no for the second year to Albania’s request for the candidate status in its annual progress report in October last year. On corruption the president said that all institutions and the people should hold a joint fight against that calamity as it needs deep reforms.
Topi also repeated that politicians who enjoy immunity should take it off and that could be a good step in that fight.
Topi was also optimistic that Kosovo would once day become a NATO and EU member. He said that its recognition is a difficult process due to the developments in our continent too, adding that Tirana would continue its lobbying for their brethren.
Topi said that strengthening ties with all countries in the region, including Serbia, is a necessary precondition for the long-term peace and stability in the Balkans.