Fleckenstein – Opposition should go back to Parliament – Berisha should stop telling ‘Soros’ tales

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – During a press conference today in Tirana, European Parliament Rapporteur MEP Knut Fleckenstein has called on the Albanian opposition to go back to Parliament while confirming that accession talks with the EU depend on upcoming general elections expected to be held on June 18.

Fleckenstein said the European Parliament supports the EU integration of Albania, while underlining that without free and fair elections and implementation of justice reform, there can be no opening of accession talks with the European Union.

“Justice reform should not be done to satisfy us, but the citizens above all. Justice reform was approved by consensus in parliament and the consensus should be shown through implementation that it was real – where the Vetting process is crucial” – said Fleckenstein.

Earlier in February, a large majority in the European Parliament adopted a report on Albania proposed by MEP Fleckenstein.

The report acknowledges Albania’s steady progress towards fulfilling the remaining key priorities and sets out the reform steps which are still outstanding. It urges Albania to continue its reform efforts in the interests of the country’s citizens and it calls on the European Commission and the Council to continue their active support for Albania’s EU accession process. It also calls for opening EU accession negotiations with Albania as soon as there is credible progress with implementation of the justice reform.

During today’s press conference at the EU delegation in Tirana, Fleckenstein added that the ‘Vetting’ process “is not only important for those who are corrupt, but also to show that there also those who are not corrupt. We spoke with ministers Vasili and Gjosha and we heard there may be some technical problems, which can be solved through arrangement between Albania and the EU”.

Earlier in the month, Minister of Justice Petrit Vasili and Minister of Integration Klajda Gjosha had expressed concerns to EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn that the establishment of the International Monitoring Operation could run into constitutional irregularities, because of improper reading of the new constitution.

Commenting on the protest of opposition democrats who are entering their 6th day of demonstrating in front of the Prime Minister Rama office in Tirana’s main boulevard, Fleckenstein said that the Democratic Party should go back to parliament because that is the only place to negotiate and take decisions.

At the end, the social democratic German MEP had a stern message for former PM and spiritual leader of the democrats Sali Berisha – “I respect Mr. Berisha a lot, former prime minister, and former president. But I would ask him to stop talking about the Soros issue. This has also happened in Macedonia. Those who are weak talk of such tales and I don’t think Berisha is weak”.