Initiated from the governing Democrats, a round table has gathered all political groupings, including a surprise presence of the opposition Socialsit leader, Edi Rama. But recent experience has shown such talks just turn into a poltiical show with no results. International mediators can do nothing to push Albanian leaders reach a compromise, despite intensive calls and warnings.
Tirana Times
TIRANA, Oct. 24 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha held a round table last week Friday to discuss ways of amending the electoral code in time for next year’s local polls. But what made the meeting interesting was a surprise participation from main opposition Socialist leader Edi Rama only minutes after the start of the meeting.
The opposition had insisted before the round table was useless unless the government agreed to investigate the last year’s general elections. They had even considered that a provocation.
Rama’s presence served to repeat such words and also offer another format of solution in a piece of paper which Rama handed over to Berisha.
It should be said that Rama’s participation also came after a top US official met with both leaders a day ahead. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman insisted he had not come to mediate among the Albanian political parties but also said that the political stalemate was hampering the country’s progress toward the European prospects
Opposition socialists complain of a vote count manipulation last year and want a partial recount, something considered illegal from the governing Democrats
The Socialists have postponed resuming of street protests until Brussels gives the go ahead for the visa liberalization November 8.
Berisha had convened a few political parties, that responded to his request, and also some non-governmental organizations and also new head of the OSCE Eugen Wollfarth, who hailed it.
He also warned Albanian politicians to “act responsibly.”
“I want to be clear straightaway that the details of what an electoral reform might include are for you as politicians, as parliamentarians to decide. ŠI would encourage you to consult widely and to aim to seek the widest possible political consensus so that any final reform is long lasting and based on the rule of law and the Albanian Constitution. ŠI consider it worthwhile to draw your attention to the very first recommendation from the 2009 ODIHR final report that relates to the role of political parties in the electoral process.”
Governing Democrats made another offer for negotiations for this Friday.
Parliametnary group head and deputy leader Astrit Patozi sent a letter of invitation to all the political parties, including the main opposition Socialsits.
They also made it clear the negotiations are entering the stage of debate among experts and the Demcorats named their person in charge, former justice minsiter Ilir Rusmajli.
It is not known whether the Socialists will respond positively.
And, what is more important, no one can say if such talks will really reach to any compromise to give an end to the poltiical stalemate, that seems to have had it snegative impact on the country’s itnegration into the European Union.
What is read at the itnernational or European media means that EU will give a negative answer to the country’s request for the candidate status due to the poltiical stalemate as poltiics is of primary improtance in that step.
