Topi wants Sollaku out of his post, but no move yet

TIRANA, Sep. 28 – Albanian President Bamir Topi said that the reform of the judiciary was a great concern of common Albanians and of international institutions which the country hopes to join.
In an interview, the first on public television, Topi said that reform in the judiciary requires political cohesion.
Topi said that it is very likely that a parliamentary commission will be created, assisted by a group of experts, many of them international ones.
As expected, the removal of Prosecutor-General Theodhori Sollaku became a main topic of interest for journalists and was later followed with many reactions from the political arena. Topi considered that as the most important issue of the moment.
“When we speak of the crisis of trust in justice, of course in the citizens’ perception that crisis is linked with the inefficiency of the institution of charge,” said Topi.
The president said that like all other institutions, the prosecutor’s office needed necessary and vital reforms. Topi said, however, that the prosecutor’s office is not problematic only because an individual, that is Sollaku, but “has to do with the system where the individual, especially that one who leads the institution. bears his responsibilities.”
He made it clear that the prosecutor-general should have a fixed mandate and not an unlimited one as it is at the moment.
Topi said he has had contacts and meetings with Sollaku to discuss the need of reform. Topi said he had asked Sollaku to become public in support of a fixed term and mandate.
But Topi also said that the president had not the exclusive competencies to fire the prosecutor-general.
Nevertheless, Topi hinted there was no obstacle to the parliament undertaking a new initiative on firing Sollaku.
“I have been for soft solutions, acceptable for all the parties, solutions that would be accepted by the politicians,” he said, criticizing the interference of politics in the daily work of the judiciary.
Though not saying it by name, Topi said that those individuals considering themselves as permanent in the post had symptoms of a dictatorship, clearly hinting that Sollaku is not permanent in his post. “I am waiting for a fast reaction soon (from Sollaku), I believe,” said Topi.
The opposition immediately reacted, saying that Topi should not remain part of the governing Democratic Party and follow its link of moving Sollaku from the post.
Last year Albania’s last president, Alfred Moisiu, refused a demand from governing Democratic Party lawmakers to have Sollaku fired, saying he had not violated the constitution. The parliament had voted in July last year to dismiss Sollaku, after a two-month investigation by lawmakers accused him of 80 offenses, including abuse of his position.
Berisha has accused Sollaku of being part of a criminal network.
The parliamentary committee’s report on Sollaku also claimed that cases mishandled by prosecutors had forced the state to pay out $20 million in damages to people who were jailed but later acquitted.
The Socialist-led opposition boycotted in protest of what they called a shoddy investigation.
The opposition accused Berisha of seeking to take control of Albania’s judiciary and other independent institutions. Sollaku, who once served as Berisha’s political adviser, accused the prime minister of waging a political attack against him. The opposition leaders have clearly opposed Sollaku’s firing, which they consider as another effort from Prime Minister Sali Berisha to consolidate all the powers under his personal control.
Topi also spoke on Kosova, clearly repeating Albania’s stand of independence. He said that Albania had played well its role on Kosova, promoting the issue wherever it has been possible.
On NATO, EU integration Topi said that Albanians “should demonstrate they are motivated to continue with reforms as required.” Topi was convinced Albania would receive the full NATO membership invitation at the Bucharest summit next spring. The electoral reform was a main topic of interest in that context, he said.