The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Albania Receives EU Questionnaire
Tirana | 16 December 2009 |
The 384 page long document with over 2200 questions is considered an important formal step for Albania’s road to the EU.
“This is a historic postcard that Albanians received this New Year and Christmas Eve,” Prime Minister Berisha described the document in a joint press conference with ambassador Lohan.
He went further to call on the leader of the Socialist opposition, Edi Rama, to appear together in a joint press conference to mark the occasion and the country’s support for the EU integration process.
The Socialists have boycotted parliament since the 28 June parliamentary elections, which they say were marred by fraud, seeking a partial recount of the election ballots. The boycott and series of protests by both camps have poisoned the political climate in the country, spurring a long laundry list of accusations from both sides.
Only two weeks ago, Berisha called Rama as "the head of the most dangerous mafia clan in the Balkans."
The importance of political cooperation for the country’s EU future was stressed also by ambassador Lohan, who called on the opposition to end its parliamentary boycott.
“Parliament is the place for political debate,” Lohan said, adding that he hoped that the opposition would accept Berisha’s call for dialogue.
