TIRANA, May 24 – In the context of Albania’s long-awaited opening of accession negotiations with the EU, Christian Democratic Union lawmaker and reporter for Albania at the German Bundestag Thorsten Frei said Germany is also observing the Xhafaj case progress.
In an exclusive interview, Frei said the way judges and prosecutors will follow up the Xhafaj case will affect Germany’s decision to open accession negotiations with the country in June.
According to Frei the Xhafaj case requires an independent investigation, while he also admitted Germany will collect whatever information it needs to give a stand on the country’s opening of negotiations.
“I follow the case with a lot of attention. But I cannot judge it legally. However, taking into consideration law implementation, it is important for Albanian politicians and judges to do that,” Frei said.
He added that the opposition’s accusations toward the country’s minister of interior and his brother are serious and that it is in the government’s interest to clarify these accusations as soon as possible.
“The minister’s behavior is crucial, in my opinion. It should be made clear he did not break the law to protect his brother. This requires an independent investigation,” Frei said.
He concluded his interview by adding that Germany’s vote on whether Albania should open accession negotiations with the EU or not will highly depend on whether the country has fulfilled conditions placed on fighting corruption and enforcing the rule of law.
In this context, the Xhafaj case, among others, and the way it will be dealt with by the country’s judiciary system, is also a determining fact in Germany’s final say.
