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Refugees: Berisha’s U-turn
A lightning-fast change has been observed in the PD’s position regarding the repatriation of Albanian refugees who fled to Italy during March. After accusations of a secret agreement between the government headed by Nano and the Italian government, at the expense of Albanian refugees, the PD has completely changed the direction of its attacks. Albanian ministers are now being accused of making irresponsible statements, even of showing a “lack of manners” toward Italian generosity, of making absurd demands when it comes to extending the deadline for the refugees’ return, and of Nano’s failure to create the right conditions for their return as soon as possible. This change of position on the refugee issue became known over the past two days through an interview Pollo gave to an Italian daily and, yesterday, through Berisha himself at his regular press conference. The same Berisha who until yesterday beat his chest, saying that he “would not bargain over the refugees”—naturally referring to Nano’s “secret agreement” with the Italians for their return—is now attacking the government’s agreements to extend the stay of Albanians who fled to Italy for as long as possible. In addition, while “defending” Italy against attacks by Albanian ministers, Berisha, foreseeing stormy relations with the neighbour across the sea, holds our government officials responsible for this.
First and foremost, all this is tied to the PD leader’s mindset: he refuses to make any positive assessment of his opponents, who are now in power, and criticizes everything they do. At first, when the return of Albanian refugees by 31 August seemed certain, Berisha played the “secret agreement” card, claiming Nano had made a deal with Prodi and the others, of which those who fled in March were the victims. But not long after the Italian government’s decision, which in response to requests from Albania extended their stay by another two or three months, the “secret agreement” or “bargaining over the refugees’ fate” had become a spent card. Under these circumstances, the accusations had to be redirected, with Nano being blamed for making “absurd demands” or for failing to cooperate on the refugees’ return.
By focusing on such accusations, Berisha has missed the opportunity to play a deserved part in easing, even temporarily, the refugees’ hardships. Instead of stirring up the government in order to “tighten the ranks” of the PD, it would have been much more useful to make use of his many contacts in Italian political circles to seek more or less what Nano was asking for, if not a little more. In this respect, Berisha could have done his utmost to get his fellow right-wingers in Italy to soften, even slightly, their calls for the immediate expulsion of Albanian refugees. It would not have been surprising if he had then won the “palm of glory” for achieving some concrete result. Specifically, at the bilateral meeting, several positive results were achieved concerning Italy’s contribution to Albania, and the refugee issue was also on the agenda. On the other hand, he could have silenced the accusations that he is a politician who does not understand the principles of coexistence and cooperation.
GAVROSH LEVONJA