Even the interest-free money is in question
. Sudja abandoned by its partners. A shadow of doubt also hangs over “Xhaferri.” The sign promising “December 18” was removed from Sudja’s pole yesterday.
Does the big fish eat the little one, or the other way around? American reprimands also include Serbia, Burma and modestly pluralist Albania. In a State Department statement, Albanian democracy is considered to have taken a step backward, and this will cost the small country. Mr. Coffey has been quite harsh with the official authorities in Tirana. The way the Constitution is drafted, with all Albanian political parties required to take part; the safeguarding of democratic institutions in the country; and a fair law guaranteeing equality among the media appear to be Washington’s conditions. The American “threat” goes so far as to say that the United States may review its relations with Albania if there is no political will in the country to change things.
• The night before last, Sudja undertook a round of visits to the offices of several large companies and other major firms, but none of them agreed to meet with it. Indeed, sources within the firms suggest that Sudja may have asked for a loan or assistance to enable it to pay its clientele. to pay its clientele.
● Fluctuations in the payment of instalments have led more people to withdraw money from “Xhaferri” than to deposit it.
● Symptoms resembling those of the period before Sudja was blocked—when deposits were accepted while the postponement of instalments was being announced—have greatly increased clients’ concern. As if to make the “ominous” resemblance to Sudja even more complete, security measures at the foundation’s offices have been stepped up considerably, with numerous guards and the usual police uniforms. Meanwhile, the hermetic secrecy surrounding its president, Rrapush Xhaferri, has cut off all contact with the press and with clients wishing to meet him. Page 4
Albanian, to change things. This statement suggests that the U.S. position toward Albania has changed hardly at all since May 26. There has been no sign of a softening; indeed, one Albanian politician calls this moment a genuine crisis.
For Albanians, America has always been seen as a symbol of freedom and democracy. American support influenced the dissident movement of the early 1990s. That same support enabled Albanians to rid themselves of dictatorship and establish a pluralist, democratic state in the country. Today, this very Albanian democracy is considered by former friends to have taken a step backward.
The new Albanian government of ’92 received considerable assistance from the United States. It was considered very close to Washington and sincere, especially in foreign policy and defense. It is thought that at the time Tirana had close consultations with the superpower. The once very warm relations between the two countries were cited as a reason for the cooling of relations with European countries.
The warmth of these relations appears to have begun to fade when Zef Brozi, the number one figure in the Albanian justice system, was dismissed from his post. At the time, the United States described this dismissal as an infringement of the independence of Albanian judges. Brozi is now in the United States as a political asylum seeker, making him a typical example.
After the May 26 elections, the United States could not accept the violations and irregularities. At the time, it called for the adoption of the Constitution and early elections. It seems that its position has remained consistent to this day. Tirana has explained the cooling of relations between the two countries as the result of misinformation spread by lobbies and anti-Albanian circles in Washington. In his statement, Mr. Coffey is categorical and rejects such an idea.
Apparently, Tirana is the one that must make a move. First the Constitution, and then the other steps, must demonstrate Tirana’s willingness; so far, it has been stubborn.