TIRANA, June 2 – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday in Tirana that political violence is in conflict with democratic values ”‹”‹and is absolutely unacceptable.
Stoltenberg commenting in relation to the political developments in the country after concluding a meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama.
He addressed all the country’s political forces to behave responsibly and with self-restraint and resolve each issue through dialogue and political processes.
Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, the opposition called its next protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, where Stoltenberg that same afternoon called for dialogue among political actors pointing out that political violence is unacceptable.
His visit to Tirana was announced only a few days ago and preceded that in Skopje, North Macedonia, which had long been planned.
At a press conference with Rama, following the meeting he had with him, Stoltenberg took a break from commenting on the recent political developments in Albania, first praising the country’s contribution to NATO and the example as expressed by Albania for peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
“Democracy will always have different debates and opinions. This is not a weakness, it is the foundation of what makes a strong democracy. But political violence is contradictory to our democratic values, it is absolutely unacceptable as every effort to undermine democratic institutions,” said NATO Secretary General, calling on “all political actors to behave responsibly and with self-restraint, and show the necessary political consensus to continue on the path of integration and resolve any differences through dialogue and political processes. This contributes to a better future of Albania and the region.”
On his part, Rama said that, according to him, the opposition protest “is not a show of great popular concern. It is a political show and there is no chance to stretch beyond the boundaries of the political scene. We will go through with the elections as an undeniable democratic process. If someone does not prefer and decides not to enter the elections, this does not make them undemocratic elections.”
Rama further said that “any form of destabilization that would affect the image of the country beyond the one that brings the organization of violent manifestations into a narrow and unsupported perimeter will not be allowed.”
For more than three months, the opposition has chosen to protest in order to demand the resignation of the PM and the creation of a transitional government that would guarantee its early elections and a free and fair election process.
The opposition insists on a political solution which, according to it, has the negotiable condition of Rama’s resignation.
Shortly after comments by NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg on political developments in Albania, Democratic leader Lulzim Basha, inviting citizens to join the protest, said through a Facebook post that there will be no “step forward for the liberation of country from evil. The power of crime has fallen! Parliament is illegal! Children of Albanians are without bread! Houses are being ruined due to corruption! Justice is captured! Business is going down! Violence strikes everywhere! Power knives have touched the marrow! It will no longer be endured,” emphasized Mr. Basha adding that “only the free vote will bring a government that works for people! For wellbeing! For employment! For development! Standards and democracy alone will open our way to Europe!”
