Different to other countries, the political class, citizens, media in Albania often rely on foreign diplomats serving in the country to play the \u201cpeacemaker\u201d when it comes to resolving internal issues.<\/p>\n
But the European Union ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, who guested on the \u201cInside Albania\u201d podcast with Alice Taylor this Saturday, said it is not his role to comment on domestic politics, but merely point out to the right things for Albania on its way to the European Union.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that the EU ambassador here counts. What you say has to be weighed carefully. But I\u2019m also very respectful of the sovereignty of this country. I think it\u2019s a mature democracy and my role is not that of a political commentator. I\u2019m not there to say something is good or bad. I see my role more as saying sometimes \u2018If you do this, it is not really in line with your long-term objectives of joining the EU. This is not really going in the right direction.\u2019 Particularly when it is stated that it is, so I feel compelled to give my opinion,\u201d explained Gonzato.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, I have sometimes expressed my wish that for example, the situation in Parliament was addressed and that the country went back to normal parliamentary life, simply because I felt this was a key condition for adopting those reforms that Albania has to adopt. I felt it was part of my role of helping Albania towards joining the EU. Besides that, I don\u2019t feel that it\u2019s my role to give guidance. Privately, I might convey messages but I really try to refrain from taking a public stance. I had a meeting with some journalists who asked why I don\u2019t speak up more or politicians that send me letters about situations, which might be regrettable, but I think they have to be addressed by politicians, and not me,\u201d Gonzato added.<\/p>\n
On the prolonged chaotic situation in Parliament where a part of the opposition boycotted the normal work of this institution, protested and even set fire, the ambassador expressed happiness that that is now over.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeveral times, I have passed messages privately and publicly saying that it was important that they would find a way forward, that would allow the opposition also to play its role. Let\u2019s be clear. I just felt that the way in which part of the opposition was behaving in Parliament, was damaging actually the reputation of the institution and the country. So, I\u2019m really pleased that that is over. However, as I see it, the situation and this \u2018truce\u2019 is fragile and needs to be nurtured. One concern that I have is that part of the deal was the launch of two inquiry committees and I see that both the Health Committee and the TIMS Committee are having difficulties in moving forward and that the majority and the opposition don\u2019t seem to find a compromise and that is absolutely necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to the topic of diaspora vote, debated for a long time now whenever elections approach, the diplomat noted, \u201cIt\u2019s not so much a question of supporting it or not, in the sense that we don\u2019t have a consolidated EU practice on this. But there is a ruling of the Constitutional Court that needs to be addressed and I\u2019ve actually read that there seems to be now an agreement within the consensus-building mechanism that indeed they need to find a way, be it online, be it by mail. There are competent bodies that can advise politicians in Albania about the best and most feasible way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about guaranteeing free and fair elections as Albania approaches the 2025 general elections, Gonzato emphasised a key element as to why the result has to be accepted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of free and fair elections, the OSCE\/ODIHR has monitored the previous local elections and they made a number of recommendations that should also be part of the package that the Parliament needs to adopt in order to prepare for the next round of general elections and it should do so in the most inclusive way possible. The reason why I\u2019m saying it is that it\u2019s important that whatever the result is, it is accepted by all parties. Otherwise, we will start a new parliamentary term already on the wrong foot with tensions, boycotts, things that Albania has known in the past. And frankly in this stage of Albania\u2019s history it should be a thing of the past,\u201d concluded the ambassador.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Different to other countries, the political class, citizens, media in Albania often rely on foreign diplomats serving in the country to play the \u201cpeacemaker\u201d when it comes to resolving internal issues. But the European Union ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, who guested on the \u201cInside Albania\u201d podcast with Alice Taylor this Saturday, said it is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":69223,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[270,308,5947,4561,150,243,151,4654,1753],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n