Tirana Times editorial
TIRANA, July 05 – Change is in the only constant thing, as the cliche saying goes. And the summer of 2012 finds the Balkans as a place where anger over the economic crisis, bad governance and a slow EU integration process is brewing the type of politics that promises to take the region back to a dark place instead of moving it forward to its European dream.
The extremists are getting votes and support – whether these are showing true neo-Nazi colors as the Golden Dawn Party has done in Greece or whether they wear the suit of the new Serb President Tomislav Nikolic, who was one of Slobodan Milosevic’s men during the brutal ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.
Albania, full of domestic political problems of its own, needs to stop and watch what is happening around it. The need to clean up the political mess at home has been driven so far by a hope of a faster path to EU membership. It is evident now that protecting Albanians’ interest in the region is also a priority that needs to bring Albanian politicians together.
The return to power in Serbia of the Milosevic’s Socialist Party through the election of Mr. Nikolic as president comes with a large set of challenges that could hurt the uneasy stability in Kosovo. Furthermore, it could indicate a step backward in the region’s EU hopes, despite assurances by the new Serb leader that he wants to keep Serbia on the EU path.
Unfortunately, the Serb election results are part of a wider trend in the increase the influence of extremists in a number of Balkan and European countries. At least the new Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ center-right coalition government is not an extremist one, but that doesn’t make it any friendlier to Albanians, as whatever the Greek government does, has strong implications related not only to Albanian immigrants in Greece but a full array of foreign policy issues that are vital to this country’s interests.
In addition to the issue of Albanian immigrants in Greece, the relations are also strained by the delineation of the maritime border and determining the proper number of ethnic Greeks in Albania. Such problems between Albania and Greece need to be solved based on international law, international documents, and on European values.
Albania, now a NATO member, has little to fear in terms of its security in the world. It does have to content with domestic problems of its own keeping the country back in terms of EU integration and leaving it weaker to deal with and protect its national interests with neighbors like Greece and Serbia.
It is clear that Serbia, an official EU candidate for membership, chose as president someone who belongs in the past. That’s the total opposite of what it should be doing – saying “sorry” for its past crimes.
Domenique Moisi, the renowned French political science expert, said “the only European nations that have not asked for forgiveness to one another are the Balkan peoples.” A European idea, an Europeanization project for the Balkans is neither credible nor feasible until such process takes places.
Albania’s key goal has always been to play a constructive role in the region with active support for Western policy in the Balkans. The country has also never been aggressive toward its neighbors. But a strong and politically stable country also reflects an entity that can be successful in an increasingly agitated region.
That’s why, Albanians should clean up the house and sort the domestic political quarrels as soon as possible. If not for themselves – do it for the neighbors.
