Instead of a congratulations to Sali Berisha

By Luciano Boçi

Today is Sali Berisha's birthday, dominating Albanian politics with his weight, beyond his years.

Extraordinary and unrepeatable, he remains the man who set the milestones in the history of the modern post-communist Albanian state.

The changer of eras, the bringer of Kosovo's independence, the opener of the EU gates, the achiever of NATO membership and the main factor in the overall transformations of the country, Sali Berisha is the statesman who subordinated his political career to the service of the citizen's homeland.

Opponents, though they try to hate him, simply to confirm themselves, accept the imposition he forces.

Democrats love or adore him for his indomitable character and brilliant mind.

Citizens respect or oppose it according to political orientations.

The ungrateful make the ugly cynic.

The failed scribes, fed in the swamp of hatred and slander, sharpen their pencils today for the thousandth time against him, to remind him of the time, knowing full well that for him it remains only a formal convention.

Sali Berisha has proven that his political life is a trajectory of success filled with battle stations, during which his opponents have done everything to eliminate him on his knees, without ever being able to succeed.

He has always returned in triumph.

He created the Democratic Party in unthinkable days, defended it in the days of the counter-revolution of '97 and saved it in the days of today's political revenge of the shadows of the past and organizations with political or legal veladones.

Sali Berisha remains the reference point of the confrontation in the name of truth and political and constitutional freedoms, in the name of good against evil, in the name of the citizen against criminals of any kind.

His indomitable confrontation and stability in critical situations has inspired and continues to inspire actions and political actions in defense of democratic values ​​and principles.

His political arrest has not dampened his passion and his energy to continue the mission he undertook since '90 with the same intensity and strength, enriched with new ideas, visions and armed with a unique political experience.

Keeping him imprisoned today with methods of political inquisition, using the forms and methods of the dictatorship that he destroyed together with the PD, proves the political horror that coexists within his enemies, but also their investment for primitive revenge, because snatched the throne from the fathers and returned it to the citizens of this country.

If today it is accepted that Albania has progressed in economic development, there is definitely his undeniable contribution to the free market and the strengthening of free initiative, and the decisions and arts of governance under his leadership.

If we are entering Europe, this man opened the doors.

If we are proud of NATO membership was started and finished by this man.

If today we feel strong as a nation with Kosovo on our side, don't forget that this man lobbied and succeeded diplomatically and politically.

If shame exists today, the biggest shame of our country is keeping Sali Berisha as the leader of the opposition as a prisoner.

And if today we want to wish him a long life, which everyone does from the heart, let us first do this in the form of dedication, which calls to do everything in order that the man who is the symbol of democracy, the man who is the symbol of sacrifice for the truth and freedom, to be free.

Let's do it in the form of organizing action, to force the unconditional surrender of those who today see the freedom of Sali Berisha as the end of their political life.

We do it as an obligation we have towards this country and its history.

Let's do it with the passion and strength of Sali Berisha.