A Most Pointless Trip
The visit of the PS & PQ leaders to Greece
It is a paradox to seek help from a country with which we have problems to resolve
Irregularities in the elections provoked reactions from all the country's political forces that were harmed by them. Being unprepared for such a situation, most parties, instead of seeking to move toward establishing a dialogue to unblock the situation—which could have consequences in the future—embraced various improvised forms and means of struggle, ranging from staging protests in the form of public demonstrations to knocking on the doors of international organizations.
A group made up of the leaders of several parties that categorically boycotted the electoral process went to Brussels for a week, where it made contact with representatives of European institutions, laying their problems before them. Such a step is both right and necessary. It is right because every party has the right to express its objections to European and international organizations in general, not only about the elections but about the entire course of democratization in Albania. Reporting to EU institutions is also necessary, since by...
It is a paradox to seek help from a country with which we have problems to resolve
...even a single verbal statement condemning the manipulation of the elections or supporting the line they have pursued. They are also hoping, perhaps because of some statement made in European political circles, where criticism has been voiced of Greece for the friendly stance it has recently shown toward Berisha. But it is difficult to expect any surprise from the Greek capital. At least for now, there is no reason for Greek politics to make a U-turn and support the Albanian opposition, even at this moment when Athens needs calm in its relations with Albania.
Above all, it sounds absurd to seek help in fighting against a part of the Albanian people It is natural that Greece will side with whoever is more suitable for it—in other words, whoever is ready to make more concessions to it. Experience has shown that this has happened in the past as well, and there is no shortage of examples. For this reason, the trip by Ceka, Gjinushi and Dokle to Athens is a pointless undertaking, and a harmful one when national interests are at stake.
Before undertaking political actions and incursions, the stubborn leaders of PQ & PS should not forget that first and foremost they are Albanians. Elections can and must be achieved in Albania. But you cannot reach elections by walking blindly without knowing where you are going. As far as ...
to express its objections before European and international bodies in general, not only regarding the elections, but regarding the entire progress of the democratization processes in Albania. Reporting to EU institutions is also essential, since, by becoming familiar with the flaws in our democracy, they can make assessments and, on that basis, offer recommendations for overcoming negative phenomena so that we can move even further away from the past.
But just as the visit to Brussels was positive for Albanian democracy, the visit being made to Athens by the leaders of those parties is incomprehensible, even absurd. Even before the elections, much was said about the role Greece might play in the outcome of the elections in Albania. Indeed, Mr. Stefanopullos’s visit and the proposed draft law for seasonal workers were seen at the time as Greece’s support for Berisha and the Democratic Party. It seems that this idea has led the leaders of the PS, PSD and PAD to set off for the Greek capital to win support there. If not support for starting everything over from scratch, then at least to gain some concessions in Albanian government circles, politically, to fight against one part of the Albanian people from a country with which we have many problems to resolve. Despite the current springtime prevailing in Albanian-Greek relations, another winter is to be expected if we take these problems into account. In such cases, it is clear that support is never given without demands for various concessions, something that prepares the ground for [...] undertaking “political” actions and incursions. We must can and should be achieved in Albania. But you cannot get to As can be seen, the only thing some people involved in politics do not know how to do is politics. The leaders of the PSD, PAD and PS, during these days of high temperature, if they cannot talk about politics, should set aside words that have nothing to do with it; that way, they can rest a little too.