Greece blocks integration, Tabaku: We have 10 years in the squash game, don't justify the government

The deputy of the Democratic Party, Jorida Tabaku, has commented on Greece's blockade regarding the opening of negotiations for Albania's EU membership.

In a post on Facebook, Tabaku writes that not opening the chapters in December due to the problems raised by Greece is the wrong decision due to haste".

Tabaku adds that an Albania within the European Union is a better opportunity for everyone in implementing the rule of law, absolute justice and accountability of a political class that can no longer use the means of power to distort democracy.

Among other things, the democratic deputy says that the government has been following the "pumpkin game" for 10 years.

Full post:

It's time to open the first chapters and really start the negotiations with the EU!

We have 10 years in the pumpkin game! Was the negotiation of the chapters opened or not? And actually the middle of December is the moment when the final decision is made on this.

We all know the reality and we know that today Albania is one of the countries that has deep problems in many areas as presented and in progress report. These problems in ten years have accumulated more rapidly and new ones have emerged and appeared while the integration process has been used for daily rhetoric and as a beautiful image or as victimization of the government that is given to leaders at summits.

But, while concerns grow and accumulate, not opening the chapters in December due to the problems raised by Greece, I think it is the wrong decision due to haste.

Today, more than ever we must use the integration process to change internally. As the problems with elections, vote buying, financing of political parties as written in the decision of the March 2020 council and in the resolution of the German parliament will not go away by themselves. On the contrary, they will worsen if Albania is not allowed to advance on this path.

Right, the country is governed through a mixed form of democracy with autocracy with centralized power, the assembly is used to attack opponents and not as a platform for debate and ideas to approve reforms, and the force of law is used to silence the media as well.

But, as I am clear about the situation and vocal about all the problems, I have the deep and sincere conviction that we cannot have improvement if Albania remains outside the integration processes. Four years ago the German Bundestag drew up a set of 15 preconditions that to this day have not been fully met and cannot be fully met unless Albania has a green light.

We all know that the integration process is in itself a process of transformation that serves Albania to build exactly that state of law and democracy that we as Albanians seek and not only that others want.

But all this will not happen if Albania is denied the real start of negotiations. Otherwise, the government will be given another alibi in the endless chain of baseless excuses that are the best excuse of those who want to subvert democracy over self-interest. In this case, the excuse for the "wedding" that did not take place will be worn by Greece, while a tis of dishonest nationalism from our side will envelop the government.

That's why we have to get out of this 10-year puddle of giving alibis to a government that looks for them with a magnifying glass at every opportunity. Especially in today's conditions, when the burning fires give another form not only to the EU expansion, but above all to the fight against corruption, which is one of the great wounds that this government has given to Albanians.

An Albania within the European Union is a better opportunity for everyone in implementing the Rule of Law, impartial justice and accountability of a political class that can no longer use the means of power to distort democracy. This is the real dream of those who govern Albania today and we must do our best not to allow it!

Therefore, to anyone who has a decision-making or a statement in this process, and to the Greek colleagues who have raised concerns, who could raise any issue other than what they actually raised, stop giving excuses to the government!