Take of attorney and former Ombudsman: Spartak Ngjela
Attorney, Spartak Ngjela told Euronews Albania that the decision of the US Department of State, declaring the former PM of Albania, Sali Berisha and his immediate family persona non-grata, is a very important sign for our country and shows USA’s interest in Albania.
For Ngjela, the non-grata declaration can’t be compared to any other previous case from Vangjush Dako to Tom Doshi, because the former PM according to Ngjela, is one of the biggest heads of corruption that has been putting Albania at great danger.
“For Albania, it means that the game is on, to continue the fight against corruption. The US Secretary of State spoke out, which means that the US has a great interest in Albania. The US ambassador also said it yesterday that the military game isn’t coincidental, because in this region, there’s a great war between Moscow and Washington, especially in Albania. This is the first step because these [big heads] are many, so the blows will continue. Through this, the U.S let everyone know that whatever you want to do, you don’t have the strength for uprisings and other things.
This whole thing was in Albania’s interest. We’re not talking about the interest of one generation, but of the entire country,” said Ngjela.
According to Ngjela, Albania has been at a high risk because of its big heads involved in corruption and the US has notified this blow on corruption in the high levels, a long time ago.
“This isn’t a message, it’s a fact. They have notified this blow on corruption by using the term ‘big fish’. All these things were excepted and they will continue,” said attorney Ngjela.
Take of analyst and Euronews Albania’s editor-in-chief: Mentor Kikia
Euronews Albania’s journalist and editor-in-chief, Mentor Kika stated this Wednesday that this decision wasn’t taken now by the US, but it only arrived to Tirana, today.
“I believe that today wasn’t the day this decision was taken, but today it arrived here, in order to notify the declaration persona non-grata of Berisha and his family. We have two pieces of news in our hands, the decision to declare them non-grata and the arrival as I said… the choice of the US Department of State’s decision to deliver this news exactly today,” said Kikia.
Interpreting the contents of this declaration, Kikia emphasized that this announcement doesn’t seem to only have arrived for the former PM Berisha, but also for the current President of the Republic, Ilir Meta.
“Why did the news arrive today? This should be looked at through a magnifying glass, in order to see where the intentions of the US Department of State currently lie. Today, was Sali Berisha’s turn and his family’s. I read the notice very carefully and I believe that this letter hasn’t only arrived to Sali Berisha, but I’m afraid it’s also meant for Ilir Meta. This is a letter that has come at a time, when Albania is undergoing an important political moment,” he said.
In addition, the journalist also stated that after this decision, Berisha could become an “inspiring figure for radical opposition”, at a time when the Democratic Party hasn’t conceded the elections of April 25th.
“There could also be the risk, that under the current circumstances, when DP wasn’t able to return to power, its opposition could radicalize. We are currently faced with DP’s uncertainty whether it will enter Parliament or not. All options are open. I think Berisha could be an inspiring figure of a harsh form of opposition-making…even a radical one,” concluded Kikia.
