Diaspora organization urges political cooperation to speed up EU journey

TIRANA, July 28 – Albania’s recent election and developments related to it have been of interests to the country’s large diaspora worldwide, and in the United States in particular.
Albania held national elections in June 23 which were won in a landslide by the leftist Socialist Party-led coalition of Prime Minister-elect Edi Rama.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sali Berisha also resigned from the center-right Democratic Party’s leadership that was taken over from Lulzim Basha, the Tirana mayor.
The National Albanian American Council, a not-for-profit organization advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs, made a statement to congratulate Rama and his coalition partners on the election victory and also to congratulate the Democratic Party on the election of Basha as its newly elected leader.
“We hope that the new political dynamic in Albania will lead to better cooperation between the incoming government and the opposition so that Albania can continue its EU membership process. Leading up to the recent elections, the EU, and the U.S., made clear that the elections process would greatly influence their relations with Albania,” it said in a statement.
The June 23rd elections were deemed by the OSCE to be the best elections ever held in Albania, which presents a unique opportunity for politicians to end the polarization that has stalled the country’s EU progress.
Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has also applied for the EU candidate status.
The NAAC urged the Socialist Party and its coalition partners to work through the process to form the new government.
The Democratic Party has a new party leader for the first time since its formation, and the newly elected chairman will need to secure the support of his party members in order to serve as a constructive opposition.
“Since the [Socialist Movement for Integration] party, headed by Ilir Meta, had been a coalition partner of the previous DP-led government and part of a pre-election SP-coalition, they have an opportunity to serve as a bridge of cooperation between the government and the opposition. Further, with significant populations of Albanians living across the border of each of its neighbors, the country is poised to be a regional leader in economic development, education and cultural cross border cooperation and, as a NATO member, regional security, ” said Avni Mustafaj, NAAC executive director.