The EU and US ambassadors to Albania have warned against derailing the justice reform in the country.
On Sunday evening, US Ambassador Yuri Kim warned against “a back-room deal to kill justice reform”. She wrote that the reform must go on, despite it being imperfect:
I hope there is no truth to rumors of a back-room deal to kill justice reform in 🇦🇱. Reform is painful, slow & imperfect, but it is necessary, making progress & must continue.
— Ambassador Yuri Kim (@USAmbAlbania) May 21, 2020
EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca also tweeted shortly after about the need to not open fundamental issues regarding the reform, but to enhance its efficiency.
… the Albanian citizens deserve and to bring forward now Albania 🇦🇱 on its EU🇪🇺 accession path. 2/2#EUforAlbania 🇪🇺🇦🇱
— Luigi Soreca🇪🇺 (@LSorecaEU) May 21, 2020
Prime Minister Edi Rama replied to US ambassador’s tweet with a Shakespeare quote: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
AGREE🇦🇱🇺🇸🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/xNmaUK2CcP
— Edi Rama (@ediramaal) May 21, 2020
The Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha replied to both ambassadors with the same message:
Any constitutional or legal changes regarding justice reform by the current parliament are illegitimate. Such changes serve only those who use their power to twist and undermine the reform and to politically control and capture the justice system. https://t.co/hDdZ6PfvCF
— Lulzim Basha (@lulzimbasha_al) May 21, 2020
In the last two days, Ambassador Kim has met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha, and President Ilir Meta.
It remains unclear what the “rumors” are but the issue has quickly pushed the most important ambassadors and political leaders of Albania to Twitter this evening.
Basha’s message seems to give a possible glimpse into alleged planned changes to justice reform laws by the current parliament. However, the issue remains unclear.
