Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA252
2008-03-31 05:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
Macedonia's Ahmeti Visits Tirana
how-toVZCZCXRO8569 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTI #0252 0910530 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 310530Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6919 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TIRANA 000252
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE (ERIN KOTHEIMER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MK AL
SUBJECT: Macedonia's Ahmeti Visits Tirana
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS TIRANA 000252
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE (ERIN KOTHEIMER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MK AL
SUBJECT: Macedonia's Ahmeti Visits Tirana
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) Ali Ahmeti, the Macedonian Chairman of the Democratic Union
of Integration (DUI),visited Tirana on March 25, where he was
received by Prime Minister Berisha, President Topi, Speaker Topalli
and Albania's opposition leaders. Ahmeti expressed solidarity from
the Albanian community in Macedonia in the aftermath of the Gerdec
tragedy and also discussed internal political developments in
Macedonia with Albanian politicians. Albania's political leadership
warmly supported Macedonia's NATO aspirations and reiterated
Albania's position for a full implementation of the Ohrid agreement.
Ahmeti's visit follows an earlier visit of PDSH Chairman Menduh
Thaci in March, 2007.
Ahmeti Meets with Prime Minister Berisha
--------------
2. (SBU) Prime Minister Berisha briefed Ahmeti on the ammunition
depot explosion in Gerdec and subsequent government actions to
assist victims of the tragedy. During a press conference with
Ahmeti, Berisha expressed Albania's gratitude for the solidarity
demonstrated by the Macedonian government and ethnic Albanians
living in Macedonia. According to sources who attended the meeting
between the two delegations, Prime Minister Berisha and DUI Chairman
Ahmeti discussed issues related to the implementation of the Ohrid
agreement and internal political developments in the Albanian
political spectrum in Macedonia. Ahmeti reportedly told Berisha
that, in spite of his party's reservations about developments in
Macedonia, DUI considered Macedonia's integration into NATO to be
extremely important and would continue to maintain a constructive
attitude in support of receiving a NATO invitation.
3. (SBU) The DUI Chairman also said that his party would support
the government in Skopje to ensure stability ahead of the NATO
summit. Sources from the Prime Minister's office who were present
at the meeting indicated that Ahmeti's attitude was positive, unlike
the aggressive tone he demonstrated during his last meeting with
Berisha. Ahmeti also expressed optimism that the dispute between
Macedonia and Greece over the name issue could be resolved and would
not become a stumbling block for entry in NATO. Berisha is reported
to have told Ahmeti that Albania supports civil dialogue and
cooperation between the Albanian political parties in Macedonia.
Berisha also stressed that it is important for Albanians across the
region to show that they are able to hold orderly political
elections.
4. (U) During his stay in Tirana, Ahmeti also met with President
Topi, Speaker Topalli, and also Socialist Party Chairman Edi Rama
and LSI Chairman Ilir Meta of the opposition. Meetings with these
leaders focused on the Gerdec explosion, political developments in
Albania, support for Macedonia's and Albania's integration into NATO
and the implementation of the Ohrid agreement. Opposition leader
Rama called on the Macedonian political leaders to resolve "the
issue over the name quickly so that there is no obstacle for the
integration into NATO." LSI leader Meta said that Macedonia's
recognition of Kosovo's independence would provide an important
contribution for peace and stability in the region.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) Ahmeti's visit and confidential discussions with Prime
Minister Berisha demonstrate the importance that the Albanian
Government places on developments in Macedonia and serve to again
showcase Albania's sustained constructive policy towards its eastern
neighbor. While the Albanian Prime Minister has been bogged down in
a domestic crisis following the Gerdec explosion, his meeting with
Ahmeti and earlier statement in support of the agreement reached
between the PDSH and the Macedonian Prime Minister (March 24, 2008)
demonstrate Berisha's continued personal interest and engagement
with developments within the Albanian political scene in Macedonia.
Meetings earlier in the month with Menduh Thaci and now with Ahmeti
also show that the Albanian Government under Berisha is adhering to
the policy pursued by consecutive Albanian governments in recent
years of maintaining equally good ties with the two main Albanian
political parties in Macedonia.
WITHERS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE (ERIN KOTHEIMER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MK AL
SUBJECT: Macedonia's Ahmeti Visits Tirana
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) Ali Ahmeti, the Macedonian Chairman of the Democratic Union
of Integration (DUI),visited Tirana on March 25, where he was
received by Prime Minister Berisha, President Topi, Speaker Topalli
and Albania's opposition leaders. Ahmeti expressed solidarity from
the Albanian community in Macedonia in the aftermath of the Gerdec
tragedy and also discussed internal political developments in
Macedonia with Albanian politicians. Albania's political leadership
warmly supported Macedonia's NATO aspirations and reiterated
Albania's position for a full implementation of the Ohrid agreement.
Ahmeti's visit follows an earlier visit of PDSH Chairman Menduh
Thaci in March, 2007.
Ahmeti Meets with Prime Minister Berisha
--------------
2. (SBU) Prime Minister Berisha briefed Ahmeti on the ammunition
depot explosion in Gerdec and subsequent government actions to
assist victims of the tragedy. During a press conference with
Ahmeti, Berisha expressed Albania's gratitude for the solidarity
demonstrated by the Macedonian government and ethnic Albanians
living in Macedonia. According to sources who attended the meeting
between the two delegations, Prime Minister Berisha and DUI Chairman
Ahmeti discussed issues related to the implementation of the Ohrid
agreement and internal political developments in the Albanian
political spectrum in Macedonia. Ahmeti reportedly told Berisha
that, in spite of his party's reservations about developments in
Macedonia, DUI considered Macedonia's integration into NATO to be
extremely important and would continue to maintain a constructive
attitude in support of receiving a NATO invitation.
3. (SBU) The DUI Chairman also said that his party would support
the government in Skopje to ensure stability ahead of the NATO
summit. Sources from the Prime Minister's office who were present
at the meeting indicated that Ahmeti's attitude was positive, unlike
the aggressive tone he demonstrated during his last meeting with
Berisha. Ahmeti also expressed optimism that the dispute between
Macedonia and Greece over the name issue could be resolved and would
not become a stumbling block for entry in NATO. Berisha is reported
to have told Ahmeti that Albania supports civil dialogue and
cooperation between the Albanian political parties in Macedonia.
Berisha also stressed that it is important for Albanians across the
region to show that they are able to hold orderly political
elections.
4. (U) During his stay in Tirana, Ahmeti also met with President
Topi, Speaker Topalli, and also Socialist Party Chairman Edi Rama
and LSI Chairman Ilir Meta of the opposition. Meetings with these
leaders focused on the Gerdec explosion, political developments in
Albania, support for Macedonia's and Albania's integration into NATO
and the implementation of the Ohrid agreement. Opposition leader
Rama called on the Macedonian political leaders to resolve "the
issue over the name quickly so that there is no obstacle for the
integration into NATO." LSI leader Meta said that Macedonia's
recognition of Kosovo's independence would provide an important
contribution for peace and stability in the region.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) Ahmeti's visit and confidential discussions with Prime
Minister Berisha demonstrate the importance that the Albanian
Government places on developments in Macedonia and serve to again
showcase Albania's sustained constructive policy towards its eastern
neighbor. While the Albanian Prime Minister has been bogged down in
a domestic crisis following the Gerdec explosion, his meeting with
Ahmeti and earlier statement in support of the agreement reached
between the PDSH and the Macedonian Prime Minister (March 24, 2008)
demonstrate Berisha's continued personal interest and engagement
with developments within the Albanian political scene in Macedonia.
Meetings earlier in the month with Menduh Thaci and now with Ahmeti
also show that the Albanian Government under Berisha is adhering to
the policy pursued by consecutive Albanian governments in recent
years of maintaining equally good ties with the two main Albanian
political parties in Macedonia.
WITHERS