Meta's charges react to Soros

In a public comment a few days ago, Mr. Meta accused Mr. Soros of standing behind a long-planned plot to fuel the civil crash on June 30th, as well as to influence justice reform”. Mr. Meta's comments followed the holding of the June 30th local elections, which he considers illegal.

But in response to Voice of America's interest on these charges, the head of the foundation's communications office “Soros” with headquarters in New York, Laura Silber, said “The Open Society Foundation is proud of the role it has played, along with the United States and the European Union, to support judicial system reform in Albania, which is a necessary requirement for opening negotiations with the European Union”. Mrs. Silber's statement further states that the “characterisation President Meta has made this effort so public as a conspiracy is strange. We expect to meet in the near future with President Meta, on the basis of the invitation that has been sent to us, adds further.

President Ilir Meta has earlier accused business tycoon George Soros of his ties with Prime Minister Edi Rama. Mr. Meta's critical stance recently joined a few dozen US Albanians in Washington. On Sunday (July 7th), they protested what they called “multimiliider George Soros' intervention in Albania's internal affairs, as well as against Prime Minister Edi Rama”.

“Foundations for an Open Society” are an international network of nonprofit, independent, non-government and non-political organisations that financially support civil society groups in the sectors of justice, education, public health and independent press worldwide. In Albania “The Soros” Foundation has been running the event since 1994. / VOA