Even though not yet completely finished, the Vetting Building was inaugurated today in the presence of US Ambassador Donald Lu and EU Ambassador Romana Vlahutin, and in notable absence of any representatives of the Albanian political scene.
Chair of the Appeals College, Natasha Mulaj said that the vetting committees will have to complete their mission, “even when the skies are brought down”:
The bitter experiences in dealing with justice have seriously damaged the trust in institutions. It is a fact that without cleaning up our ranks and without confirming before the public that we have left corruption, it would be impossible to restart the fulfillment of one of our greatest battles, that of convincing the public that also Albanian justice is just. […]
If we don’t manage to increase the trust of citizens in justice we cannot fulfill our mission. For this we need support. […] We have to do our duty in the name of a just and honorable Albania, to do justice even when the skies are brought down.
In his speech, International Monitoring Operation (ONM) representative Theo Jacobs declared that the vetting will bring “justice to the country.”
Also including the work that will be done in this building, my colleagues and I will in the future encounter difficulties in this long and challenging process. However, we will not lack the dedication to make the necessary operations in the justice system.
On this morning and in this beautiful building will our concrete challenges start. The team needs to be prepared for a responsible and important job.
This operation, which is just starting will clarify several points and bring justice to the country.
We have to be clear about the possibilities that the ONM will give us by sharing their experience with the independent commissioners to bring justice to Albania.
US Ambassador Lu stated:
All around the world we’ve got so much bad news but today is a day of hope for Albania.
While EU Ambassador Vlahutin declared:
It is an important day for everyone in Albania and we are very happy and will see also a dedicated staff in the vetting institutions.
After the inauguration, Prime Minister Edi Rama wished through his Facebook page the vetting committees good luck in their work:
Congratulations, courage, and success to the vetting commissioners! The people of this country deserve a justice system without corrupt judges and prosecutors.
