“You have not pursued a policy friendly toward us” — page 2 — Senators from the Apennines vent their anger at Albanian foreign policy

Yesterday’s debate on the Stability Pact, whose importance for our country’s future is now well known, once again highlighted the inability of the Albanian political class to seek, and consequently achieve, an impact. It is a well-known fact that, given its nature, the Stability Pact cannot belong to just one particular category of Albanians, whether that be called the government, the ruling majority, or the opposition. Consequently, the position taken on it should have been the result of a long series of constructive discussions and debates, in order to arrive at the optimal version. Specifically, Albania today is suffering, among other things, from an inability to draw up projects that would enable it to benefit from the various forms of assistance promised by the international community. All this makes it imperative for the Albanian political class to urgently reach a pact on the Stability Pact. At the very least, the international community—including “friends,” even personal ones—faced with the divergence between the positions and reactions of the ruling majority and the opposition, as well as the temporary nature of any particular group’s hold on power, will think that at the first political change in Albania everything must start from scratch. In fact, experience has made clear Albanians’ eagerness to begin the process of “uprooting” as soon as they take power. Bearing these points in mind, as well as the serious consequences experienced as a result of political conflicts, it was thought that yesterday Albanians would have the chance to see, in the parliamentary chamber, a spectacle different from the one they have grown accustomed to seeing over these years. Some convergences during the Kosovo crisis were another reason to hope in this regard. But, unfortunately, yesterday too the representatives of the various camps in Albanian politics did not break with tradition. As has happened in the past, yesterday’s parliamentary debate very quickly descended into an exchange of mutual accusations, the substance of which had not the slightest connection with the Stability Pact or the way of responding within its framework. Notwithstanding the opposition’s undeniable right to criticize the government’s shortcomings, violations and abuses, yesterday was neither the place nor the time to demand accountability for problems that had no direct connection with the Stability Pact. If the opposition had set out to attack the government and its work, there was no shortage of things to criticize in its own positions on the Stability Pact, including Majko’s presentation yesterday. But bringing other issues to the debate table—including Hajdari’s murder—leads to the conclusion that the opposition is experiencing a crisis of alternatives. Nor can the government’s inability to create the necessary space for the opposition to move toward domestic pacts go uncriticized; without them, foreign pacts cannot be contemplated.

Soros: The Balkans, united only in Europe. Page 5

The end of the 20th century, the lack of an objective ranking of historical figures, and the need for the most realistic possible assessment of Albanians’ contribution to their Homeland prompted our editorial team to initiate a nationwide poll to identify the most distinguished Albanians of this century and, looking a little further back, of the second millennium, which will end in just over three months. During this period, through all Koha Jonë media outlets and via the internet, all Albanians will have the opportunity to choose the people of the Century and the Millennium whom they believe have contributed most to our nation. Read more on page 25

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