In Albania, despite the fact that the Special Prosecutor’s Office’s investigations have involved high-level officials and also high-ranking representatives of the ruling Socialist Party, Prime Minister Edi Rama says he is calm and determined that the fight against impunity will continue.
In an interview with Voice of America, the Prime Minister takes stock of the country’s main developments, from progress in European integration, to the economy, the debate on the Venice Commission’s opinion on the case of former Minister Olta Xhaçka’s mandate, and expectations for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, first of all, thank you for this interview at the end of the year with Voice of America. I would like to start with an important event for Albania during this year, its progress in integration towards the European Union. Within two months, Albania managed to open two groups of chapters. However, your ambition is to conclude the talks by 2027. How realistic is this, considering that our neighbors have been around for years and are still far away?
Prime Minister Rama: This is not my ambition anymore, but it is the joint strategic plan written and agreed upon together with the European Commission. It is a concrete plan, with concrete steps, with concrete dates, and it is very ambitious, but we are committed to implementing it point by point and that, as far as we are concerned, we have completed the tasks for concluding the negotiations within the year that we have set.
Voice of America: Is the Albanian administration prepared to face this process? Because I am referring here to the latest report of the European Commission, and let me quote, which states that the government, for example, “continued to adopt policies and laws, raising concerns regarding compliance with EU standards”, or that “a good part of the recommendations of the European Commission were either partially implemented, or not implemented at all”.
Prime Minister Rama: These have nothing to do with the question or the content of the question about the administration, because how prepared our administration is is of course not apparent if you follow the news streams, where half-truths that are also the biggest lies, but also outright lies are the ruling material. But this is evident from the facts and the most meaningful fact about the preparation of our administration is the fact that our administration coped not only successfully, but also under the surprised eyes of the European Commission, the entire process of preparing for negotiations, which is an extremely difficult process.
On the other hand, our administration is judged by prestigious institutions, which function as institutions of the European Union, where I have in mind in this case SIGMA, which qualifies our administration, if I am not mistaken, in 4 out of 5 areas of research on the administration’s capacities, as the best in the region.
Voice of America: Mr. Prime Minister, corruption remains a widely debated topic even over the years. You have often stated a series of measures, interventions, reforms that have been taken, however in international assessments, even in the latest report of the European Commission, it continues to be considered a serious concern, and it is even said that “preventive efforts have had a limited impact”.
Prime Minister Rama: Corruption was a highly debated topic for almost two years in the United States elections and it was not a topic debated one way, but it was a topic debated on both sides, which means that in this debate about corruption there is a lot; There are of course truths that in the case of Albania we cannot deny, there are many untruths that are attractive in the political and media arena, there are many analyses that are based on many speculations, but, to return and close the answer: corruption in Albania is a problem, never so big as to deserve the nightly rants in all kinds of towers and on all kinds of platforms, but a problem that, precisely because it is real, we are facing either with reforms, or with the modernization of services and the modernization of processes within the administration, using technology, or through new justice institutions and of course, thanks to public support, which in this fight against this evil is a broad support.
Voice of America: Have you been concerned about a significant number of former officials, senior officials, your representatives, mayors and former mayors, and recently even MPs, who are under investigation by SPAK, at least for abuse of office or corruption?
Prime Minister Rama: This question has been asked to me since SPAK began operating and it always surprises me, because it could be asked to me insistently, if I were a person found unaware in the face of the products or results of a reform made by others. Yes, I am not a person found unaware and the justice reform was carried out by me at the head and the Socialist Party all in support of this reform. So, of course, I don’t like it in a human and personal sense for people I know, with whom I have worked, with whom I have collaborated from afar or from closer, but when it comes to the duty I have, when it comes to the mission I lead, when it comes to the fact that this is a painful process, through which Albania will finally become the state that never was and, thanks to which in Albania impunity is no longer a myth, but a fallen monument, and for the first time in the history of Albania, since the declaration of a state in 1912, there are individuals connected to political power, whether in the ranks of the majority that governs or in the ranks of the majority that has governed, then here it is surprising with the surprise of anyone, but I personally feel absolutely calm, clear and determined, even more determined, that this battle continues and that there is no compromise.
Voice of America: The question about the concern is related to this, not to the fact that you are surprised by this, but can I ask you about the case of Mr. Veliaj, who was recently involved in the investigation? Does this damage the image of your Party?
Prime Minister Rama: I do not comment on individual cases, I have never done so, except when there has been a final court decision, as was the case of a recidivist slanderer. But I can only say that the fact that anyone is subject to investigation does not make anyone guilty, and on the other hand, trials are not held in the media, but trials are held in legal and constitutional processes.
Voice of America: We are talking about important names in politics and public life. So, the obligation is to get an opinion from you.
Prime Minister Rama: My opinion is known. It is known worldwide. In the face of justice and the law and the right of justice institutions to do their job, it is not names that determine who they do or do not do their job for, but rather the facts and the freedoms and rights of all, which must be exercised and implemented, starting with the freedom and right of justice to do its job.
