Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA14
2008-01-08 14:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
ALBANIA: RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN MAJORITY AND
how-toVZCZCXRO6953 PP RUEHPOD DE RUEHTI #0014 0081418 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081418Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6531 INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 3244 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 3032 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1237 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0051 RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0058 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 5686 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0703 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4464 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3244 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 3725 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3506 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2375 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS TIRANA 000014
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN MAJORITY AND
OPPOSITION UNDER THE BUCHAREST GUN?
UNCLAS TIRANA 000014
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN MAJORITY AND
OPPOSITION UNDER THE BUCHAREST GUN?
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Albania's first and second opposition
parties, the Socialist Party (SP) and Movement for Socialist
Integration (LSI),appear to be not only "willing to move
forward" on reforms needed for NATO, but actively pushing for
those reforms. Likewise, the majority appears willing to
meet them half-way on the effort. We have heard preliminary
reports of agreement on an agenda to move forward. If words
are matched by deeds, Albania could realize the needed
outstanding reforms before the Bucharest Summit. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) With the passage of Albania's peak holiday season,
New Year's, and the return of political parties to Tirana,
the April 2-4 deadline of the NATO Bucharest Summit may have
moved to the forefront of political concentration. This
first week of business has seen strong statements by SP Chair
Edi Rama and LSI's General Secretary, calling for "a
translation of political will into political products of
reforms," in the words of LSI's Vasili. SP promised to draft
legislation to present to Parliament when it reconvenes
January 21 to move the process forward.
3. (U) SP also issued a written statement, faxed to Embassy
and others in the international community and media, which
acknowledged "the extraordinary importance of the April NATO
Summit" for Albania. In it, the party expressed its "full
support for all necessary required measures" to make an
invitation possible and guaranteed "its readiness and
decisiveness to accomplish" all measures. SP was "convinced
of the necessity of overcoming historical political
conflicts" and affirmed its "good will to create a political
climate of trust and cooperation." (SP added a line of
support for resolution of Kosovo status in a "synchronized
process between legitimate Kosovo institutions and
international partners.")
3. (SBU) An uncharacteristically gentle Speaker Topalli
welcomed the opposition's readiness to join in the work
needed for immediate reforms in order to receive a membership
invitation. Topalli offered to call a meeting of the
conference of parliamentary group chairpersons immediately,
before Parliament reconvenes, in order to set the agenda for
the next session. (Even while Parliament is adjourned,
commissions and conferences continue their work.) Contacts
have told us that a closed-door meeting between majority
Democratic Party (DP) and SP leaders achieved concrete
progress in setting a preliminary agenda for judicial and
electoral reform.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: If deeds follow words, Albania could
realize needed electoral and judicial reforms well before the
Bucharest Summit. Post will continue to urge them in that
direction. END COMMENT.
CRISTINA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN MAJORITY AND
OPPOSITION UNDER THE BUCHAREST GUN?
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Albania's first and second opposition
parties, the Socialist Party (SP) and Movement for Socialist
Integration (LSI),appear to be not only "willing to move
forward" on reforms needed for NATO, but actively pushing for
those reforms. Likewise, the majority appears willing to
meet them half-way on the effort. We have heard preliminary
reports of agreement on an agenda to move forward. If words
are matched by deeds, Albania could realize the needed
outstanding reforms before the Bucharest Summit. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) With the passage of Albania's peak holiday season,
New Year's, and the return of political parties to Tirana,
the April 2-4 deadline of the NATO Bucharest Summit may have
moved to the forefront of political concentration. This
first week of business has seen strong statements by SP Chair
Edi Rama and LSI's General Secretary, calling for "a
translation of political will into political products of
reforms," in the words of LSI's Vasili. SP promised to draft
legislation to present to Parliament when it reconvenes
January 21 to move the process forward.
3. (U) SP also issued a written statement, faxed to Embassy
and others in the international community and media, which
acknowledged "the extraordinary importance of the April NATO
Summit" for Albania. In it, the party expressed its "full
support for all necessary required measures" to make an
invitation possible and guaranteed "its readiness and
decisiveness to accomplish" all measures. SP was "convinced
of the necessity of overcoming historical political
conflicts" and affirmed its "good will to create a political
climate of trust and cooperation." (SP added a line of
support for resolution of Kosovo status in a "synchronized
process between legitimate Kosovo institutions and
international partners.")
3. (SBU) An uncharacteristically gentle Speaker Topalli
welcomed the opposition's readiness to join in the work
needed for immediate reforms in order to receive a membership
invitation. Topalli offered to call a meeting of the
conference of parliamentary group chairpersons immediately,
before Parliament reconvenes, in order to set the agenda for
the next session. (Even while Parliament is adjourned,
commissions and conferences continue their work.) Contacts
have told us that a closed-door meeting between majority
Democratic Party (DP) and SP leaders achieved concrete
progress in setting a preliminary agenda for judicial and
electoral reform.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: If deeds follow words, Albania could
realize needed electoral and judicial reforms well before the
Bucharest Summit. Post will continue to urge them in that
direction. END COMMENT.
CRISTINA