TIRANA TIMES
TIRANA, July 20 – U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers on Monday spoke about the political crisis, saying Albanians should not be seen as second-hand voters.
He said last year’s parliamentary elections, despite improvements, were still below international standards. Albanians have no reason why they should be pleased with the level of the polls, he said. The Albanian people deserve that their vote is counted correctly and they have to trust the people responsible for that, he added.
He made the comments in an interview with the Panorama daily newspaper.
The ambassador makes it clear that Washington would like the Albanian politics to sit down to resolve the impasse that has been hurting the country’s move ahead. He also stressed that they support the suggestion made from the European Parliament on resolving the deadlock in the tiny Balkan country.
He considered as positive the fact that both main political groupings — the governing Democratic party and main opposition Socialist Party — have resumed their dialogue.
Withers ends his term later this summer, and it is expected that Alexander Arvizu will replace him.
The ambassador also mentioned the case of Klodian Cela, the Albanian gay man, who was mentioned by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a case that points out to the need for more tolerance in Albanian society.
On the issue of corruption, Withers said he deplored its existence in the country, mentioning that the people believe it is widely spread. The figures from the polls on corruption have not improved during the last years, he said, adding that 92 percent of Albanians believe corruption is widely spread among public officials.
Corruption is destructive to the positive things the country is trying to achieve. The fight against corruption is not a piece of paper, or words but it “should be followed with deeds.”
“Corruption should be dismantled by the roots and the branches,” he said.
Human trafficking still remains a main issue, the ambassador said and expressed their support on the fight against it.
The justice system should have the public trust, he said. It should be independent, balanced and fair.
The ambassador said that the Albanian justice system, the Supreme and Constitutional courts, do not resemble those of the U.S. system.
That was directly in response to what the governing Democratic Party has said following turning down of the candidate proposals from President Bamir Topi.
He criticized the way the Democrats had voted down those candidacies but also the absence of the opposition Socialists in the voting process.
He said that the issue of electing the new judges for the high supreme courts is very much politicized. He expressed his concern the best persons offered for such posts are not accepted. Albania needs every talented person, especially at the judiciary, he added.
On the media, he said that it is a main tool in the fight against corruption. He expressed his concern on the pressure exercised from the authorities, a great part of which behind-the-scene, and the politicization of the media outlets. The media is a fundamental tool in democracy, he added.
The ambassador also spoke on other issues, like the freedom of religion for which he praised Albania.
