NAACs Open Letter to President Moisiu
Washington, DC, April 29, 2003: The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) submitted the following letter to the Albanian President, Mr. Alfred Moisiu to address several issues of concern. The letter reads as follows and is enclosed in English and Albanian languages: 29 April 2003
His Excellency, Mr. Alfred Moisiu Honorable Mr. President! Wishing you success in your work in service of the nation, we would like to share with you some common concerns. As you are aware, and as it is made clear from the reports of many international institutions, interviews of different foreign officials, polls from local Albanian businessmen, as well as from the latest events in Albania, the massive corruption in all levels of the public administration, the challenge that the organized crime is posing to the state (in the words of the Prosecutor General), and what's worse, the connections between the politicians and these phenomena, are among the gravest problems that Albania is facing today. These phenomena are not anymore a question of image. These are problems, which damage every day the livelihood of the Albanian state and its citizens, slow down and impede the strengthening of the institutions, as well as weaken Albania's position in her relations of any nature with the international community. We have followed closely and support the results achieved so far from the Albanian government in its fight against corruption and organized crime, albeit limited. What is often mentioned from the Albanian authorities as the apogee of their achievements is the elimination, or rather the reduction of the human trafficking to Italy through speed boats after the coordinated campaign of the Albanian police and military and that of its neighbors. While this is an applaudable result, we must not forget that it took over ten years of international pressure and who knows how many Albanian lives lost at the bottom of the sea that the Albanian government decided to take this problem seriously. In our view, the achieved result only demonstrates that when there is a political will, an "illness" of a decade can be "cured" in less than 2-3 days. But is there the required political will in Albania to uproot corruption and organized crime? As you are well aware, serious allegations of corruption and ties with the organized crime have reached the highest levels of past and present politics and government in the national and international media and public opinion. We find it particularly concerning that, while the leading politicians of the country repeatedly accuse each other, nothing is being done to investigate their allegations. Just to mention a few examples: the press reports that most recently SDP leading politician and former foreign minister Paskal Milo declared that he has "damaging evidence" against former Chairman of the Albanian Parliament Skender Gjinushi. Not long ago Prime Minister Nano was accused by Foreign Minister Meta as well as the Italian press as being the godfather of Albania (the Italian press published specific information and data). Mr. Nano was also accused several times by the Albanian MP Dritan Prifti for attempted money laundering and several press reports have alleged that he illegally maintains bank accounts in foreign financial institutions. On the other hand, Mr. Nano has publicly accused former Finance Minister Angjeli as well as several other Ministers of the Meta government for corruption and ties with organized crime. Furthermore, after losing his Democratic Party Chairmanship bid a few years ago, former DP vice chairman and present DPr chairman Genc Pollo accused former president Sali Berisha for illegally owning private property and businesses in Albania and abroad under the name of others. This list is representative but is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. However, although all of these allegations come from politicians of the same side who have worked closely with each other and are in a position to know each other's dirty laundry, no formal investigations have commenced or formal charges have been pressed, and no politician has come forward to voluntarily make his assets subject to public investigation. This happens while, no more than a few days ago, the Minister of Interior Mr. Luan Rama publicly declares in the Albanian parliament that he has knowledge and files of politicians who are connected with the organized crime, a statement, which if we are not mistaken, has been made several times before by his predecessors. While citing lack of proof as the reason for the failure to start such investigations at the top of the pyramid may be a convenient excuse for the Prosecution Office, we must realize that because of the nature of the crime, hard evidence is not going to come in the prosecution's laps, but will have to be actively sought after with professionalism and dedication. Thus, recognizing the legal (and other) limitations of the Prosecution Office, over a year ago NAAC has publicly called on the Albanian parliament to "form a bi-partisan commission on corruption and organized crime with full investigative powers" and allow its members to "pursue vigorously their investigations wherever they may lead." We said then, and are convinced now, that "[w]e believe that the fight against corruption and organized crime should not be a battle of interviews or press releases but rather an institutionalized effort measured by tangible results." http://www.naac.org/pr/2002/03-26-02.html. However, events that have transpired since then have demonstrated that bi-partisan commissions are not efficient, particularly when issues that are prone of controversy are concerned. Hence, we believe that time has come to consider other alternatives. For some time now we have discussed among ourselves, with other organizations in the Diaspora, as well as with American representatives, the idea of creating a truly independent Corruption Commission, with full investigative powers, comprised not from politicians or parliamentarians, but from independendent relevant professionals from Albania and abroad. We are aware that a group of other Albanian-American organizations has recently sent you a letter where, inter alia, they support the idea of such Commission. In our view, if the Albanian political class will have the required will to create it, the parliament must give the Commission the necessary mandate to investigate all the politicians of post-communist Albania who have been in positions of power and/or members of the parliament and are still active in politics. The results of such investigation should then be presented to the Prosecutions Office so that justice can take its due course. However, being aware that the creation of such commission and the necessary legal framework can be postponed indefinitely in time, (and since the number of the accused politicians from opposing sides reaches astronomic proportions), we believe that an immediate attention must be given to the individuals presently in power who are accused for corruption and ties to the organized crime by their own party comrades. This is particularly important because of the high negative impact their hidden activities, if any, may have in Albania's progress. We believe that you as the President of Albania have the moral authority to seek the cooperation of the Parliament and the Prosecution Office to immediately commence an investigation of specific allegations against these individuals. NAAC fully understands that the creation of any commission is not the "answer" to all of Albania's problems. In the end, as they stand on paper and as it has been proclaimed many times in electoral campaigns, Albania has wonderful anti-corruption strategies. Moreover, the creation of any commission is a temporary and emergency solution. We understand that a sustained fight against corruption and organized crime will continue only when the police and the wheels of justice will be strengthened professionally and institutionally, when the politics will support these institutions unconditionally, and when a social conscience which does not tolerate such phenomena is formed. (We want to take a moment and express our deepest appreciation to those honest police officers, prosecutors, or judges who, though in very difficult conditions, work hard and with devotion for the betterment of Albania.) However, by creating the Anti-Corruption Commission, by accepting to become subjects of its transparent investigation, the Albanian political class will demonstrate by example that indeed wants to cut all ties with these phenomena, that it wants to achieve the "catharsis" so much discussed a year ago, and possibly, it will regain the trust of the Albanian citizens, the lack of which is clearly seen in the falling number of the citizens who exercise their right to vote. Finally, NAAC also understands that this initiative, if you decide to embrace it, will meet the strong resistance of that part of the politics, which is connected with the organized crime and corruption and has no interest to go to the bottom of these phenomena. Nonetheless, NAAC believes that your reputation, your family's patriotic tradition, your position in the Albanian political arena, make you the most suitable person to start concrete efforts in the fight against corruption and support this important initiative. We assure you that, if there will be serious efforts on your part to embrace this initiative, you will have not only our support, but also that of the United States of America. Sincerely, On behalf of the National Albanian American Council,
Richard Lukaj,
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-- sent by A. Alimehmeti
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National Albanian American Council
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