ALBANIA: RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN MAJORITY AND

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