TIRANA, Jan. 12 – Washington’s point envoy in the Western Balkans has condemned the violence at the Jan. 8 protest at the headquarters of Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party.
“I think it’s deplorable that anybody would resort to violence and not the ballot box in an effort to take over a political party, and quite honestly, I condemn it,” U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said in an interview with the Voice of America’s Albanian Service.
On Jan. 8, DP headquarters turned into a battleground between supporters of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and DP incumbent leader Lulzim Basha, after a months-long political campaign by Berisha to take over the party, after being expelled by Basha due to Berisha’s public designation by the United States as inadmissible due “to significant corruption.”
Escobar said the designation was about corruption, not about the politics of Berisha or his supporters.
“It is possible that he has supporters, but I would caution anyone thinking that because he can bring violent supporters out in the streets that this signals some sort of electoral support. I doubt it. And I hope that the voters reject this sort of behavior and activity,” Escobar said.
Critics have pointed out that the U.S. focus on an opposition component out of power for eight years, like Berisha, rather than the current government, is hurting Albanian democracy by weakening the opposition.
Escobar said the Democratic Party led by Basha offers a way to keep the government in check.
“I believe the current Democratic Party offers such a thing. I have a good relationship with Mr. Basha. So I would say that what is happening on the street does not really reflect what the Democratic Party is now. So I hope the voters understand — that the voters reject this kind of behavior,” Escobar said.
He added: “Not everyone who claims to be a member of the Democratic Party is an important partner to us right now.”
Escobar said the United States wants to preserve its current relationship with Albania.
“Right now, Albania is one of the strongest, most important allies that we have in the region. Our relationship across the board – that is political, strategic and even economic – is growing faster than any other relationship in the region. We want to preserve that, that’s the future.”
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