Phillips: Turkey's memorial box in Tirana ʹ is continuation of Rama's proximity to Erdogan

Columbia professor told Voice of America that he sees the establishment of the memorial in the wake of Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama and Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan.

Voice of AmericaProf. Phillips, recently a debate is under way in Albania after a memorial was established last month, but Turkish citizens who lost their lives in the coup failed three years ago in Turkey. The debate has to do with several reasons, including the fact that the municipality is refusing to talk about its role in establishing the memorial, which says nothing on its website and the fact that a memorial is established for foreign citizens in Tirana Park. What are your comments?

David Phillips: The real victim of the so-called coup in Turkey is the Turkish people. One hundred thousand people were fired, 50,000 were placed in administrative ban, 151 journalists have been arrested Turkey has more journalists in prisons than any other country, and there are some real questions about whether there really was a coup. Some say it was a controlled coup, managing (President) Erdogan and being used to justify the crackdown on society, turning Turkey into a giant shell. Establishment of the memorial in Albania is wrong, does not honour the real victims of Erdogan's tyranny, and the process was not transparent.

Voice of America: 251 people who lost their lives have been widely named innocent victims. And even though you say the coup may have been orchestrated by Mr. Erdogan, this has not been proven. However, what we are discussing today is whether such a memorial should be established in another country that is not Turkey, why and why the secret way of the process in Albania?

David Phillips: There should be no secretly done, transparency for the decision, and why is the memorial established in Albania? If Turkey wants to have memorials for its citizens, let it do it in Marmaros or elsewhere in Turkey, where it would make more sense. What about Albania's sovereignty? Has Turkey become a colony when Turkey controls politics and the economy? This is a flagrant declaration of Turkey's tyranny not only to its citizens but also to its neighbours in the region. The Albanian people should not accept that.

Voice of America: The Voice of America asked Basescu for comments by its leaders regarding decision-making and they directed the Voice of America to the Foreign Ministry, which said it had nothing to do with it. Why do you think they don't explain the process?

David PhillipsLooks like City Hall has no information. The Foreign Ministry doesn't want to talk about it. This appears to have been a direct agreement between Erdogan and Eddie Rama. In photos between Erdogan and Edi Rama, Albania's prime minister looks like an obedient puppy before Erdogan. First of all, why was he there? Was it to serve the people? Who paid for the memorial? All these investments Turkey is making in the Albanian economy are transparent? Where does the money go? Have officials been taken and corrupted? The entire incident for the memorial raises many questions for Albania and its relations with Turkey. There should be much more public information and discussion on that relationship so that Albania can defend its sovereignty and not be manipulated by Turkey for the purposes of public relations and propaganda.

Voice of America: You say maybe City Hall has no information but actually the deputy mayor was present at the ceremony. So it seems more like a case when they don't want to speak openly and publicly than not knowing. On the other hand, Mayor Erion Veliaj, in answer to questions, completely avoided the core of the problem without talking about the decision-making process, saying rather just “to respect the dead”. What's your opinion?

David Phillips: He knows nothing about the decision-making process. Perhaps he received instructions to allow the construction of the memorial to take part in the ceremony, so we really do not know the true story of the whole event. Where Did the Project Begin? Was it an agreement between the leaders of the governments? Was City Hall involved? No wonder I'm answering questions with questions because there's so much we don't know. In an open society where there is freedom and democracy, there should be public announcements and a public hearing so that the citizens of Tirana will have the opportunity to express their opinions. None of this happened, and we really don't know how it got to this point. There must be transparency and information so that those who made the decision can be held accountable.

Voice of America: In your opinion, how unusual is it to raise memorials for citizens to enter another country?

David Phillips: I don't know that there are similar memorials in Albania for another country. Nor do I know of other places that raise memorials for citizens of another country. It's extremely unusual. And it happens in parallel with a Turkish government effort to put even more pressure on Gulen organisation and close their schools. Therefore, I think it is part of a broader campaign to compromise Albania's sovereignty and make the Albanian government act in Erdogan's interest. It is not in the interest of the Albanian people, for his prime minister to become Erdogan's obedient puppy. Mr Rama must defend the interests of his people, instead of doing what Turkey wants.

Voice of America: Should there have been a reluctance to make the decision even in view of concerns over Erdogan's oppressive measures, following the failed coup and harsh criticism of him from the West over these measures?

David Phillips: Of course it should have been examined in the wider context of events in Turkey. Turkey has become a giant gouga. This also sends a very negative signal to the West and the European Union when Albania's candidacy is analysed in Brussels. Be assured that the European Commission will see the establishment of the memorial and raise the question of whether Albania aspires to a European identity or prefers loyalty to Turkey.

Voice of America: You said you thought municipal officials don't know much about the process and are getting orders. Where do you support this?

David PhillipsNobody, including me, knows what happened. I'm just following the course of events, and I'm drawing conclusions from past experience to comparable situations, and I'm speculating about funding the memorial and how the decision was made. Sessions should be held in Parliament. There must be transparency. People have to look for transparency. It has to go all the way and if something has been done behind the back to the detriment of the public, the persons involved should be placed before responsibility.

Voice of America: What is your opinion about the fact that Prime Minister Rama just days after the establishment of the memorial, was in Turkey as a friend of Mr. Erdogan?

David Phillips: Albania and Turkey have an excessive closeness, and Rama and Erdogan have a very friendly relationship. Bilateral relations should be based on national interests, not personal ones. Edi Rama must protect the interests of the Albanian people. Turkey's national interests and its personal relationship should be far less important. But when Rama attends Erdogan's daughter's wedding, it raises questions about Albania's sovereignty and Rama's independence. All these events must be investigated. Parliament must establish a commission to investigate Turkey's investments in Albania. And if there is wrongdoing and corruption, it must be exposed.

Voice of America: The government has repeatedly said it has no evil intention and to fear the relationship between Prime Minister Rama and Mr. Erdogan and between Turkey and Albania. She says she is one of Albania's strategic relations. Mr. Rama himself has expressed disappointment over your previous comments. What would be your comment?

David Phillips: He and I have talked about our previous disagreements. No, I haven't changed my attitude. I would be happy to have coffee with the prime minister and discuss it. But as someone who loves Albania and the Albanian people, I want to see the country move in the right direction and Albania's closer co-operation and submission to Turkey is not in Albania's national interest. I would like to see that both US and US concern work more closely with the United States and that Albania becomes a worthy EU membership candidate. There lies Albania's future. And the United States, everything it can do to encourage this process, has to do. The new American ambassador will soon go to Tirana, and the American government and the American government are committed to Albania's democracy and closer co-operation, now is the time for action, not words. These actions should be concrete steps the government takes to integrate into Euro-Atlantic institutions and to strengthen co-operation with the United States. Its future is not in Asia with Turkey. It is in the West, and we must do everything to encourage that.

Voice of America: And recently, in the wider context Turkey has made efforts to get closer to other Balkan countries. Is that disturbing to you and how you view its actions?

David Phillips: Western Balkan countries are not for sale. Their loyalty cannot be bought. Politicians should serve the public and protect the interests of their citizens. And the United States must make it clear that they expect these countries to comply with the best practices of democracy. Thus the partnerships are strengthened and these countries integrated into Euro-Atlantic structures. We do not want to see Albania or other Western Balkan countries buy and sell and draw even closer to Turkey's orbit. We want those countries to have strong democracy and free markets. The United States must be more pro-active to draw Albania closer and work more in partnership with it so that the interests of the Albanian people are better served.