Socialists blame Berisha’s government for delay of visa-free regime

TIRANA, July 20 – The opposition Socialist Party blamed the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha for failing to meet EU standards to achieve visa-free status.
But at the same time western European diplomats reminded Albania they have to fulfill a series of other standards to reach that level.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro and Serbia managed to get included in the so-called White Schengen List. The European Commission’s decision not to grant visa-free travel to Albanian citizens has been met with little surprise in Tirana, where the issue was the subject of heated debate during the recent electoral campaign.
Opposition leader Edi Rama, who is the mayor of Tirana, told reporters that the EU rejection of visa liberalization was a gift from Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
“Today it is a fact that Albania, because of this prime minister and his government, is more isolated than we were before the June 28 ballot,” Rama said, referring to the EC vote.
“While the citizens of [FYROM] and Montenegro will travel freely to the EU, Albanians will face the same impossible procedures not only to travel to EU countries but also to [FYROM] and Montenegro,” he added.
“There is opened a gap between Albania and other regional countries,” said Socialist-elected lawmaker Ditmir Bushati.
Albania was not included with the three other countries mainly due to the lack of the issuing of biometric passports and the introduction of integrated border management.
The opposition also added that irregularities in the June 28th general elections were another serious problem.
But German Ambassador Bernt Borchardt said that Albania should complete standards in order to claim the visa-free regime.
Speaking at a meeting organized by a non-governmental organization, Borchardt said that Brussels had given a clear and open signal to Tirana that standards had to be complied with before asking for more.
The ambassador also added he was optimistic Tirana would fulfill the standards like its neighbors. “That optimism comes from the fact that the process has already started,” said the ambassador, referring to the beginning of the issuing of biometric passports.
About 30,000 Albanians have already received the new biometric passports.
The ruling Democratic Party downplayed the opposition’s accusations and vowed Albania will be included next time, within the first year of its second mandate, which is next year.
The government authorities have also said they hope to have up to 200,000 Albanians with new biometric passports by the end of the year.
Reacting to Rama’s accusation, former opposition leader and new government ally Ilir Meta, from the Socialist Movement for Integration, said that Albania’s shortcomings on the visa issue were, “Ưf a technical natureŢ and would be overcome in short order by the new government, which is expected to assume office in September.
“I am confident that the new governmental coalition, in a short period, will realize this major goal for Albanians,” Meta said
In a long-awaited decision that sparked enthusiastic reactions in some parts of the region and was met by disillusionment in others, the EC adopted a proposal on Wednesday endorsing visa-free travel to the EU for citizens of FYROM, Montenegro and Serbia.
Bosnia, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania started the process to obtain visa-free travel to Europe in early 2008.
This week, the Commission concluded that Albania and Bosnia had not fulfilled the necessary criteria and would not be included in the first round of visa liberalization. According to EC sources, both countries will need to wait until mid-2010 for a reappraisal.