The chairman of the Albanian Republican Party, Mr. Sabri Godo, has been invited to take part in the National Democratic Institute’s International Visitors Forum, which is an integral event in the proceedings of the annual National Convention of the Democratic Party of the United States, to be held from August 24 to 29 in Chicago. This year’s National Convention represents a key moment for the country’s politics because it will determine and announce the Democratic Party’s candidate for the presidential election to be held in November this year in the USA. A large number of political figures from 100 countries around the world have been invited to take part in this event, where they will have the opportunity to participate in the process of nominating the candidate for president of the USA. Alongside the proceedings of the National Convention, a series of seminars will be organized for invited guests, beginning on Sunday, August 25, and continuing every day during the following week. These seminars, which are of particular interest, will address issues such as the proceedings of the Convention, the platform and general political positions of the presidential candidate, as well as a comparative overview of the U.S. electoral process and that of other countries around the world. Political experts, prominent lawyers, journalists, White House officials, as well as national-level analysts will deliver speeches on foreign policy and political issues that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on this year’s November presidential and legislative elections. Mr. Sabri Godo was invited by Keneth D. Wollack, president of the National Democratic Institute for International Relations, himself, as well as by the institute’s chairman, Paul G. Kirk.

The political situation has remained at a standstill After being partially informed of the flagrant violations that occurred, the international community, in addition to recommending that elections be held again in a considerable number of areas where irregularities have been identified, has also put forward the idea of creating a climate of dialogue among Albanian political forces in search of common ground to move the electoral process forward, which is currently not considered complete. Although the final report of the foreign observers who took part in the elections has not yet been issued, this does not mean that the various Albanian political forces should not begin consultations with one another regarding the continuation of the electoral process. Indeed, there is talk of repeating elections in a number of areas, but, in addition to the indications that will come from abroad, the findings and assessments of the Albanian parties are also of great importance, since they are the protagonists and victims of the manipulations carried out in the May 26 elections. Various parties have information about violations in different areas committed to their detriment. This is the first factor that should prompt the parties to sit down at the negotiating table and reach common ground on the areas where elections should be repeated. But instead of thinking about dialogue in order to break the deadlock, some of the parties have focused solely on mass protests, which seem to them the most effective means of achieving the ultimate goal: repeating the elections. Once again, some opposition parties have asked to hold a demonstration in Skënderbej Square, and once again the Ministry of the Interior has responded negatively to this request. Everyone has the right to choose the means of political struggle, including protest demonstrations. But demonstrations that become frightening and threaten public order run counter to the public interest and the democratic spirit. Shtare, do not go into a considered assessment of the issue of making Skënderbej Square available, but respond only with a blunt “NO,” trying to justify themselves with various formulas? [unclear text] If they reasoned with even a minimum of composure, it would not be difficult for them to conclude that refusing has far more harmful consequences than allowing the rally to be held in Skënderbej Square. But what would happen if the authorities showed “generosity” when it came to “Skënderbej”? The opposition would hold its much-desired demonstration; speeches would be delivered, slogans would be chanted against the state, President Berisha and the PD, there would be cheers for the PS, the election manipulations would be condemned, the release of Fatos Nano would be demanded, and so on. This could last at most one or two hours, and “the demonstrators would disperse peacefully.” In this way, everything would end without further consequences. Above all, our state would be addressed… protest demonstrations in the main squares, but it is regrettable to see insistence on just one thing. Certainly, given the moment, the political gains could be considerable, but now, when the PD is under pressure from inside and outside, efforts to bring it to the negotiating table, leaving the ball in its court, would also be very productive. In this case, it would face two alternatives: either it would yield, bearing in mind the pressure in question, or it would once again lose ground in the eyes of foreign public opinion, appearing as a political force that seeks to monopolize everything and intends to govern by authoritarian methods. But more surprising than the insistence of part of the opposition on asking for Skënderbej Square is the state’s insistence on refusing this request. Thus, even in recent days, we have been witnessing a volleyball match of requests and negative replies. Those in power, gripped by an obsession with opposing every proposal coming from the political forces against whom the election manipulations were so on. This could last at most an hour, and the demonstrators would disperse peacefully. But all, our state would receive assessments quite different from claims of “setbacks for democracy,” “the danger of establishing a neo-dictatorship,” “a policy of the stick and the carrot,” and so on. The authorities could quite easily make Skënderbej Square available to the opposition forces for as long as they need to hold their demonstration, but, as is done in other democratic countries, they have the right to require payment of the prescribed fee for making it available, just as is done with a hall or other venue. They also have every right to require payment of the prescribed fee for the police forces that will be made available to “ensure its orderly conduct.” By allowing the opposition to “let off steam” in the middle of Tirana, they would naturally and significantly diminish its complaints abroad. Above all, by holding the rally it has requested, the opposition would lose the right to an “encore” on this matter. GAVROSH LEVONJA