Bushat talks about Albania's Greece reports

The meeting focused on international commitment to promote religious freedom and to have tangible changes. The minister gathered a wide range of actors, including foreign ministers, representatives of international organisations, religious leaders and civil society representatives, to discuss the challenges and identification of concrete ways to combat religious persecution and discrimination.

Attending this meeting was Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati. Bushati discusses the Ministerial and recent developments in Albania in an interview for the Voice of America.

Voice of America: Mr Bushati, what is the importance of meeting this nature, and what can more Albania do to strengthen religious harmony?

Ditmir Bushati: It is important to note that this is a first meeting organised by the US government by the State Department that brought together representatives of about 80 states. A good communication platform to share different experiences, which have different countries in terms of promoting and respecting religious freedoms. In my intervention I brought the Albanian experience, whether in terms of investment we're doing in education, in changing curriculums around schools, good work and commendable with all five religious communities in Albania, especially in the recent conditions when not just the Western Balkans or Albania, but the entire European security architecture faces challenges from the most different things dealing with radicalism, terrorism and violent extremism. In this context, a better co-operation of all actors is needed to cope with these dangers and firmly promote religious freedoms and the right to expression.

Voice of America: Mr. Minister, I am returning to an issue that has sparked much debate in Albania, the one related to the national theatre. Today President Ilir Meta has returned the law to parliament, which envisions, among other things, the collapse of theatre and the construction of a new theatre. Among other things in the legal argument the president has put forward, it is said that this law conflicts with standards and European values, as well as with predictions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Do you have any comment on the matter?

Ditmir Bushati: The president has used a preliminary provision he recognises the Constitution to reverse a law that according to him is not in line with required standards. I'm not familiar with the arguments the president of the Republic has given. I think all this time will be fully exploited by the assembly, the deputies in the assembly, to consider all these suggestions or opposition to the president of the republic. There is no matter in my knowledge that affects the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Of course, there's a lot of theater behind the theater, but it's important in every case that public interest is protected, since this is a matter that involves high public interest, it's not just a matter of actors or architects. I can't get into a technical debate about the different benefits that will result from this process, but I think all institutions have spoken and we have to follow the logic that the constitutional process and lawmakers in the country are imposing. The Parliament means his word again I believe in this matter.

Voice of America: Meanwhile, the European Commission has also sent you some questions on this issue, requiring clarification on the procedures that have been followed in the case. There seems to be a concern far beyond public concern in Albania.

Ditmir Bushati: It is normal because Albania has entered a new phase with the <x0 process Screening” and we are in the phase of inventory of all laws, practices and institutional behaviour in accordance with the EU acquis and in this direction the European Commission has requested more depleting information about the procedures that have been followed on this issue.

Voice of America: What did you answer?

Ditmir Bushati: The European Commission's questions -- relevant institutions that have been directly involved in this process -- have responded depletedly to either related to public interest or even to other issues that go beyond simply the logic of functioning of Albanian legislation.

Voice of America: If you could sum me up in a sentence. What did you say to the European Commission?

Ditmir Bushati: The European Commission has been interested in understanding the logic followed in the case and the way procedures are respected. Institutions that have been involved in this issue have returned the response to the compliance of these procedures I just explained.

Voice of America: Mr. Minister regarding the vote in parliament. Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has reacted with confidence that the law will be voted again in parliament. This is not a hasty comment by the mayor, given that he is not even a member of parliament, he cannot decide how to vote there... and could this moment be used for a broader consensus?

Ditmir Bushati: This is not an issue related to political consensus. It is not one of those reforms dealing with the European statehood process and the consolidation of the democratisation process, as is the case with reform in justice or election. But on the other hand, there is a draft of Tirana City Hall, supported by the government, by the assembly, and this is pretty much the reading I make to the mayor's statement or present-day position. It was the mayor, who has been a promoter of a dialogue process with actors, architects, with different interest groups, and it is perfectly normal for the mayor to have an opinion on the matter.

Voice of America: Is there room for consensus?

Ditmir Bushati: Once again, I said that this is a matter that involves public interest and I believe that time at the disposal will be effectively exploited by all state instances and not only.

Voice of America: Mr Bushati at what stage are negotiations with Greece and when can they be concluded?

Ditmir Bushati: We are in an intensive phase of dialogue on all issues, be they of historical character and weight or political current issues. I believe we've taken some important steps ahead of those issues that until a few years ago were considered taboo...

Voice of America: Like what?

Ditmir Bushati: For example, until a few years ago, it was considered taboo for us to sit down and discuss a new agreement regarding sea zones. Today we are right in the middle of this process and a volume of work. Until a few years ago, the existence of the war law was denied on the part of Greece against Albania. At present we have an essential discussion not only of abolishing the law of war but also of the principal legal consequences resulting from the law of war.

Voice of America: What about the question? There are critics who think you're not discussing the big issue, those who represent the present community in Albania.

Ditmir Bushati: First, I don't know where this criticism comes from because the facts speak clearly.

Voice of America: From Salvation Idriz, chairman of PDIU's.

Ditmir Bushati: In 2013, for the first time in the programme of a government believed in the Parliament has been involved in the key issue as part of the foreign policy programme, which means that the whole game that has been played at the expense of this issue, especially with past governments, has been permanently closed with the involvement of this issue as part of the foreign policy programme. Second, when the intensive dialogue process began in 2016, both parties Albania and Greece have exchanged their opinions and opinions about the range of issues.

Voice of America: Greece does not recognise the big issue. Can there be progress in this matter?

Ditmir Bushati: These are two questions that require two different answers. Part one, about our attitude. Our stand is steadfast and about the way we've conceived the address to the point, including the red lines dealing with Greece's territorial integrity with the protection of human freedoms and fundamental rights with individual and non-communicative responsibility, with the right to commemorate different aspects of history involving the issue of ownership. Then you say Greece doesn't know. I can tell you, we've had situations totally different from us and Greece. But voluntarily, with talks and jobs, the parties have managed to bring their positions together. I hope that there will not be a distant day when Albania and Greece will draw their positions to this issue.

Voice of America: Mr. Minister, your Greek counterpart has said that Greece will soon expand territorial waters. What did he mean by this statement?

Dimir Bushati: I don't know what the Greek foreign minister meant, but I do know that the entire negotiation process with Greece is governed by the principles of international law, by the convention on sea law, by the principles of constitutional law and respective legislation.