Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TIRANA168
2009-03-17 09:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
Tirana Weekly Report - The Rise and Fall of a Sexual
how-toVZCZCXRO1390 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTI #0168 0760933 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 170933Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7965 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TIRANA 000168
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM AL
SUBJECT: Tirana Weekly Report - The Rise and Fall of a Sexual
Predator
UNCLAS TIRANA 000168
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM AL
SUBJECT: Tirana Weekly Report - The Rise and Fall of a Sexual
Predator
1. As the last sexual scandal involving the Minister of Tourism,
Culture, Youth, and Sports Ylli Pango was blasted all over Albanian
newspapers in the past week, one can't help but wonder about the
ethics of Albanian politics. Of course, "it is not new in any way,
shape, or form", people say - rumors of Pango's sexually predatory
behavior had been well known for years. Yet, everyone was shocked
at the images and voice recorded by a hidden camera, which showed
clearly the sexual advances of the minister to a young girl looking
for work in the institution he directed. After 18 years of
democratic transition, the "sexual" life of a political figure
becomes such a big issue, regardless of the fact that other
incidents of this kind have involved political figures or leaders of
the Socialist Party as well. As it seems, sexual harassment and
abuse of public office to gain such personal benefits are one thing
neither party has a monopoly on. Prime Minister Berisha fired Pango
immediately - only four minutes after his behavior was shown on TV,
in a desperate attempt to shield the already scandal-ridden
Democratic Party from further political damage.
2. Many wonder why Prof. Dr. Ylli Pango was made a minister in
Berisha's cabinet in the first place, given the rampant rumors of
his not just sordid, but outright illegal behavior. He had been the
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in the past and a professor
for many years, where he forced faculty members and his students to
work for his political campaign in 2005, the same year in which he
published his thick book on psychology by plagiarizing and using
students to do the translation from English; directed his own NGO,
and had a reputation for unwelcome sexual aggression against his
young female students. The day after the broadcast showing his
attempts to force himself upon the young woman job seeker, Pango
showed up on an evening program stating that the video was a set up.
The outrageous thing is that he claims that everyone would act as
he did, for in Pango's world all people are prone to falling victim
of their sexual desires.
3. After all is said and done, Pango continues to be a Member of
the Parliament and is now, again, looking for another job. When the
appalling nonsense of his story starts to fade, he will probably end
up working again in a university, and will stay involved in
politics, as many similarly "disgraced" political figures have done
and continue to do in Albania.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM AL
SUBJECT: Tirana Weekly Report - The Rise and Fall of a Sexual
Predator
1. As the last sexual scandal involving the Minister of Tourism,
Culture, Youth, and Sports Ylli Pango was blasted all over Albanian
newspapers in the past week, one can't help but wonder about the
ethics of Albanian politics. Of course, "it is not new in any way,
shape, or form", people say - rumors of Pango's sexually predatory
behavior had been well known for years. Yet, everyone was shocked
at the images and voice recorded by a hidden camera, which showed
clearly the sexual advances of the minister to a young girl looking
for work in the institution he directed. After 18 years of
democratic transition, the "sexual" life of a political figure
becomes such a big issue, regardless of the fact that other
incidents of this kind have involved political figures or leaders of
the Socialist Party as well. As it seems, sexual harassment and
abuse of public office to gain such personal benefits are one thing
neither party has a monopoly on. Prime Minister Berisha fired Pango
immediately - only four minutes after his behavior was shown on TV,
in a desperate attempt to shield the already scandal-ridden
Democratic Party from further political damage.
2. Many wonder why Prof. Dr. Ylli Pango was made a minister in
Berisha's cabinet in the first place, given the rampant rumors of
his not just sordid, but outright illegal behavior. He had been the
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in the past and a professor
for many years, where he forced faculty members and his students to
work for his political campaign in 2005, the same year in which he
published his thick book on psychology by plagiarizing and using
students to do the translation from English; directed his own NGO,
and had a reputation for unwelcome sexual aggression against his
young female students. The day after the broadcast showing his
attempts to force himself upon the young woman job seeker, Pango
showed up on an evening program stating that the video was a set up.
The outrageous thing is that he claims that everyone would act as
he did, for in Pango's world all people are prone to falling victim
of their sexual desires.
3. After all is said and done, Pango continues to be a Member of
the Parliament and is now, again, looking for another job. When the
appalling nonsense of his story starts to fade, he will probably end
up working again in a university, and will stay involved in
politics, as many similarly "disgraced" political figures have done
and continue to do in Albania.