From Fatmir Xhafaj
At the beginning of my speech, I would like to strongly support the proposed resolution and express my full solidarity with all the Ukrainian people and especially with the girls, boys, women and men who have joined this heroic resistance and are facing in any form in every means, a barbaric putinist aggression that is bombarding not only their country but also all the peace in our world. Putin’s army is invading another country, committing serious human crimes, taking the lives of innocent people and setting a terrible precedent in international relations, in respect of international law.
It is already clear. The world today, Europe in particular, is not like yesterday and tomorrow will be much different than today in every way.
Citizens of European countries, who have filled the squares with their solidarity rallies against Ukraine and the supportive and reactionary policies of their governments, have quickly and correctly realized this.
What about us? What is our political, institutional and social reflection?
We have focused everything on the local battle for 6 municipalities, who will turn out second and who will take ownership of the party HQ with or without locks.
The European parliaments call for unity, we continue to fight against each other and are involved in the typical runway of the media parade of our daily politics.
In Germany, the newly ousted opposition fully supported the ruling coalition regarding policies that fundamentally change their security strategies, and here there is hardly a good word for the role of our country, the contribution of our government and the Albanian state through our state representatives, highly experienced professionals, which are giving another international voice and image to Albania, the Albanian flag and nation, in the Security Council.
Dear colleagues,
Ukraine is not far away and we are connected to the fate of Europe politically, economically and militarily. Moreover, we live in a region where in at least 3 countries there are chauvinist forces, followers of Putinism and Milosevic who sleep with dreams for the former Yugoslavia and wake up with nightmares about a greater Serbia. The Balkans have been the bedrock of pro-Russian and nationalist alliances for centuries. “In Ukraine, we are seeing more and more mercenaries from third countries, including Albania and Croatia, militants from Kosovo and even jihadists with experience of military operations in Syria” Putin said in a conversation with the German chancellor. It may sound ridiculous to some, but I personally do not believe that Putin and his levers coincidentally include the Albanian and Croatian factor in Ukraine.
Today more than ever we need to appreciate why America was concerned two years ago about Russian influence in the Balkans or why US Congressmen today are asking the State Department for more attention to the Western Balkans.
So it is time for all of us to be serious and responsible and to discuss fundamental changes in foreign policy, security and economic issues.
Starting from yesterday, but also dictated by today’s realities, it is time to reflect, to draw the right lessons and to act quickly and decisively in accordance with the interests of our nation and state.
First of all, everything has to do with the necessity of strengthening democracy, democratic institutions and intensifying the fight against corruption. A strong state with a consolidated democracy has the vital condition of strengthening the rule of law.
Therefore, first of all, this Assembly and we, dear colleagues, all together, have a special responsibility to make this war much better, much stronger and much more efficient than before, as a necessity to have a better future, sustainable, much better governance and consequently a strong state to face the difficult challenges of tomorrow, to provide confidence and security for the citizens, for the young men and women and their future.
Secondly, we need to seriously review our policies and strategies on foreign and security policy issues, but especially measures to reform and strengthen information and law enforcement agencies, ensuring political inclusion, consensus and cohesion, and not only.
Positive, but quite insufficient, we shall consider a formal meeting of the National Security Council on the current international situation and the expected effects.
Obviously we may not agree on many things with each other but on security and foreign policy issues we are doomed to become ONE.
Therefore, from this microphone, I suggest to the Prime Minister, as the leader of the majority to urgently initiate and institutionalize a joint table with all political and institutional factors of the country to work and agree on a National Strategy, long-term, comprehensive and sustainable over the years.
The third is related to our role in the region, to the dialogue and communication with the countries that share this region and above all to the Albanian factor wherever it extends.
Personally, I strongly agree and support the proactive communication that our government has built in the regional framework with governments and all actors in the region, the approval of agreements that unite and do not divide, that expand the market and interaction in it, but of course weighing right our national risks and interests.
I strongly believe that despite the elites and some non-progressive political groups in some countries of the region, such as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, we have an obligation to try to build and maintain this bridge of public communication even to support the positive factors that are operating in these countries, to give impetus to a new way of communicating and interacting with new generations. Otherwise we will leave free territory to the nationalist, putinist and chauvinist tendencies present and active in some of the countries of the region.
Having said this, I do not exclude, but on the contrary I consider vital for the fate of our nation and our state the need for a much better unification of the positions of the Albanian factor so far, for a common strategy of political, economic and cultural cooperation and why not even military. Undoubtedly, the steps taken are good, but I believe that they should be further deepened and institutionalized in a joint security agreement for which we should all work seriously.
We shall not bear the complexes that someone will consider this as an attempt for a greater Albania or for the domination of the Albanian factor. We are not talking about attacking or subjugating other peoples in the region, but about cooperating between us and our neighbors for a calmer, more secure, more democratic and much more economically developed region to be actively involved in Euro-Atlantic and integration processes.
Fourthly. We are experiencing a change of eras where security issues are becoming a priority so we will have to invest much more to strengthen defense, for the security of our country in the broadest sense of this word. If we do not take the risk of war seriously today, it may be too late tomorrow, and we may find ourselves unprepared.
We must be prepared for something that today seems impossible as it seemed to Ukrainians yesterday the leveling of their cities with the barbaric methods of World War II. Is it not at all enough and healthy to say that we are safe as a NATO member country?! Undoubtedly we are safer than ever, but not invulnerable to any possible war that no one wants, but it must be thought.
We have to answer more and more often the questions how prepared are we Albanian citizens for the situations that a possible regional conflict and beyond brings, or how psychologically prepared are we for such a situation? Is it necessary for technology, weapons, defensive shelters, but also the military culture of the people and especially the youth to pass a scanner in order to modernize and prepare for the worst case scenario.
I think these and others like these are priority topics that need to be seriously posed and get a professional response.
If we have them, I believe even more strongly that we should communicate and debate with experts in this field, local ones that we fortunately have and very good ones, with the expertise of international partners, but also with the citizens of this country if we want to give them the right peace and security, but also the necessary ability and responsibility.
Fifth and last but not least. In the finale, obviously, everything has to do with the table of Albanians, as the shootings in Ukraine are piercing the pockets of our citizens. Prolonged conflict will bring hardship to European markets, or at best, increase the price of basic basket items. If other countries have a consolidated economy and are continuously preparing to face these situations, we come from two other major wars like earthquake and pandemic which had quite a few costs although they were dealt with very successfully.
Today we are facing the effects of another much bigger and fiercer war which we must face with the same success as the daily reality we see in the eyes of the citizens is getting worse every day.
To govern means to choose, and to govern in a crisis, is to make difficult and painful choices, which become successful when shared with citizens, with business, with interest groups.
Therefore, today communication and public transparency are required, with clear public positions, debates, arguments, facts, concrete platforms, etc.
We must tell the truth to the people and at the same time prove to them with great seriousness, political and statehood, what the concrete short-term and long-term effects awill be. The consequences they will have and most importantly what measures we will take for life security, food security, price increases, fuel prices, energy independence, etc.
This is a comprehensive war that in one way or another is affecting the entire globe, but today each of us, before looking at the government, must point the finger of responsibility first at ourselves then at others seriously, honesty and with obligation to Albanians.
Thank you!