Weekly Review – Opinions on Respublica.al

Berisha and Theodosius’ Line - by Eduard Zaloshnja - August 4, 2011

Through a well-conceptualized historical retrospective, the distinguished columnist and political analyst Eduard Zaloshnja, gives a detailed account of what seem to be the intentional efforts on the part of former President of the Republic and current prime minister, Sali Berisha, to prevent Albania from progression toward the EU and the realization thereby of an early dream of Albanian people. He argues that Albania became ill-fated, when the last emperor of the united empire of Rome, Theodosius I, decided to divide the vast empire in two parts, drawing a line between the eastern and western sides. The fact that Albania belonged to the eastern side, as Berisha is cited to have said, determined the fate of our nation, “a fate that history brought to us to change permanently”. But after ascension to power, as the author further analyzes, Berisha did everything in his limitless power to make Albania never cross the Theodosius Line, and join therewith, the western nations of Europe. The author mentions some historic facts in post-communist Albania that prove that Berisha is not the right man for the job, to lead Albania toward the European Union. Among others are, the drafting of a Constitution in 1994 that gave him unlimited power as President; the arrest of Greek minority representatives and the attempt to eliminate the Chairman of Supreme Court,  Zef Brozi, after he released them in 1995; the  hostility towards the Party Chairman Eduard Selami; the financial pyramidal schemes and the protection he granted them by declaring that the "money of Albanians are secured by the state"; the 1996 general elections that ended up being massively rigged. Berisha’s refusal to listen to international community’s advices, especially the Americans, led to the events of 1997 and later, to finish with the elections in 2009 and 2011.   

EU is sinking in Kosovo – by Agon Hamza – August 4, 2011

The author analyzes the incapacity of EULEX to solve the crises in Northern Kosovo, and deducing thereafter that the entire European Union is “an impotent political structure with massive Kafka-style bureaucracy… The deterioration of financial crisis in Greece, Ireland, Spain, and lately, in Italy show the weak foundations of EU political and ideological structure.

Dubious privatizations – by Arbër Zaimi – August 3, 2011

The author raises the question that bothers the majority of Albanians: How come that, foreign companies that operate in Albania have no experience whatsoever in their countries of origin and are focused only in Albania? The answer is known to everybody: these strategic assets are being privatized by dummy investors because political power of current officials of Albanian government is behind them.

Unlucky Presidency – by Mustafa Nano – August 2, 2011

The governing majority in Albania has recently launched a denigrating and defaming campaign against the President of the Republic, Bamir Topi. They have nothing against the presidency, that’s for sure; they have it all against Mr. Topi, who, all odds are, will found a political party after leaving office. Such a party with national-conservative tendency is expected to attract large part of DP electorate, leading to a considerable shrinkage of an already dwindling popular vote for Berisha’s party. 

The author argues that with Mr. Topi in office, the presidency has reached lowest level of participation in the political issues of the country.        

A Prosperous Nation? – The quest continues – by Alfred Kola – August 2, 2011

It is a question that Albanians have been asking themselves for centuries. In this article the author portrays a gloomy perspective, but he does not intent to answer the question. He rather prefers to appeal to Albanians to start taking responsibility for the country's future.