Kukan and Fleckenstein: “Law for decriminalization must be voted by all parties”

15/09/2015 20:00

After the debate at the Foreign Commission of the European Parliament
for the June 21st elections in Albania, the European Parliament Members,
Eduard Kukan and Knut Fleckenstein, declared that the majority and
opposition must pass a law for the decriminalization process. For Eduard
Kukan, an MP that shoots with a gun reminds him of the cowboy stories
of the Wild West.

Top Channel: There are some efforts from the Prosecution, which includes the arrest of some Socialist MPs. Do you consider them part of the decriminalization process of politics?

Knut Fleckenstein: I think that it is part of this, certainly. But we want a legislation related to this topic, the way how Albania will handle this.

Top Channel: What is your comment about the fact that so far there have been only Socialist Parliament Members indicted?

Knut Fleckenstein: I cannot comment on this. If there are only these three from this political side, it happens because there are only these three, or because the others were smarter. I don’t know. I am neither a police officer or a prosecutor.

Top Channel: What about you, Mr.Kukan?

Eduard Kukan: I can say that the fact that three Parliament Members have been arrested, reflects the need to resolve this issue systematically. I agree with the fact that these steps are in the right direction, but, as my colleague said, we need a legislation that should be approved by all political parties.
 
Top Channel: Mr.Kukan, you are still unhappy with what has been done so far with decriminalization in this country.
Eduard Kukan: The draft has been staying in the Parliament for a long time.

Top Channel: Some Parliament Members have been arrested…

Eduard Kukan: Yes, but these are not systematic steps. These are criminal acts. Mr.Prenga was shooting with a gun. It looks like stories from the Wild West sometimes when we hear from Albania. I am very sorry, but this is horrible.

Top Channel: What about the judiciary reform?

Eduard Kukan: The judiciary reform is also important. The sooner it is implemented, the quicker Albania will advance.

Knut Fleckenstein: I would say that the judiciary reform is even more important than decriminalization. If you don’t have really independent judges, you will not have the people’s trust to the state.

Top Channel: How important are the June 21st 2011 events from this view, which you have included in the recent report of the European Parliament for Albania?

Knut Fleckenstein: It seems like a good example for the real need of a judiciary reform. If you had more trust on judges and prosecutors, they would have worked differently, I think.

Eduard Kukan: You know this is an issue that should not be forgotten, but resolved.
 
Top Channel: What should our country focus on one month before the annual progress report?

Knut Fleckenstein: On these topics that we mentioned. The judiciary reform, decriminalization and the judiciary reform. Despite the various problems and the five key priorities, the judiciary reform is the most important. If it is not resolved within the next month, it would put more time before we can speak about opening the negotiations.

Eduard Kukan: As you know, the progress reports are usually written in August. Certainly, the government makes some things that should be taken in consideration, but it is too late and it is very necessary to use this time effectively in the four weeks to come. I say that it is on Albania’s best interest. Oh, God! How many times must we repeat that you are a candidate country and the next step is the date for opening the negotiations?
Top Channel: Really?

Eduard Kukan: Yes, certainly. This is the next formal step, as decided by the EU Council. But the member counries need to see concrete facts, otherwise, it would be very difficult.   

Prepared by: Arta Toza

Top Channel