Fighting politics back in reconciliatory tones

TIRANA, June 30 – Just when it seemed the country would again be engulfed in its ever-squabbling political clashes, there came a reconciliatory gesture this week from Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the governing Democrats.
What a day earlier seemed to have turned into a hot political issue, on Monday became the issue to motivate the opposition Socialist Party to become more cooperative, as it tried last spring.
Berisha has issued an invitation to the opposition Socialists to continue their cooperation on the all-important issues of electoral reform and justice.
The same day, the meeting of the parliamentary head of groups announced they would crate a commission for the Electoral Code.
Berisha also praised the recent decision to resolve the legal challenges to the constitutional amendments of last April which laid the foundations for the new regional proportional electoral system the two main parties agreed upon. “We hope and believe we shall find a good understanding in the context of this reform so that Albanians vote freely and politicians respect their will,” said Berisha.
He further extended cooperation in reforming the justice system, the other main problem preventing Albania’s integration efforts into international organizations.
“Praising the opposition’s readiness, I invite it to continue the reforms in the justice system,” said Berisha.
The premier’s words came following the opposition Socialists complaining about what Berisha had said about them a day earlier. Valentina Leskaj, of the Socialists, said the party had been a step ahead after offering concrete proposals for the electoral reform, unlike what Berisha had said.