The Chairs Conference met today to decide on setting up of a Special Parliamentary Commission with a focus on coordinating and supervising all institutional efforts to combat disinformation and other forms of foreign interference in democratic processes in Albania.

“I am sorry that my colleagues in the opposition view every initiative of the majority with paranoia. But, this is not the case”, said Çuçi.

According to him, “Due to developments around the world, the values of Western democracy are threatened more”.

“Disinformation is one of the instruments that is being widely used to undermine democratic values. We don’t say this, but the whole Western world does. The European Parliament had a resolution and a special commission for this purpose. This is not a mechanism for our internal political goals, that’s why we have to be together on this matter”, said Çuçi.

According to him, “The setting up of this commission is necessary”.

“It will make a complete analysis of the situation. I think that if this Parliament will have a commission where we should be in sync, it is this commission where we should provide a detailed analysis of the level at which the intervention of these countries has gone. We cannot be immune when the USA or EU countries are not. It is our honor to address it as soon as possible. I am convinced that you will join this commission”, stated Çuçi./m.m/r.e/p.s./

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the SP parliamentary group, Çuçi revealed the subject matter of the committee, adding that such a body has also been established by the European Parliament in 2020.

“Socialist Party will forward to the Speaker of the Assembly a request to create a special parliamentary committee tasked with coordinating and overseeing all the institutional efforts to address foreign interference in the democratic processes in Albania,” Çuçi told reporters.

According to him, the committee is of a special importance and similar bodies have been already set up in other democratic countries.

“The Committee will implement a holistic and long-term approach, as it will be tasked with overseeing the activity of all institutions concerning such a sensitive issue,” the senior Socialist official said.

/r.e/u.sh/

During the conversation, there were discussed the close and friendly relations between Germany and Albania and the current situation of internal politics, the German Embassy in Tirana said.

Ambassador Bergner underlined the important role of the Parliamentary groups for legislation and in controlling the executive power. All factions of the ruling majority and the opposition must be given the necessary space and at the same time contribute constructively in the interest of the citizens.

Ambassador Bergner reiterated Germany’s support for Albania’s EU membership in the near future.

In the course of Albania’s alignment with the EU, it is very important that legislative projects meet EU standards./r.e/p.s./

During a television interview, Çuçi said that, “Whoever is asked to appear before justice, should do so”.

“The SP, from the chairman to the last official, has declared that whoever has been asked to appear before justice, should deal with justice; we do not become a shield of anybody. We are the only party that has such a clear stance on this issue. It was clear for the SP; we are the founders of this new law; we are the political force that founded it. If there is one thing that is clear in the public opinion, it is the stance of the SP with the new justice that still needs to consolidate”, said Çuçi.

The head of the Parliamentary group of the SP also emphasized that, “There is no reason to go towards early elections”.

“There is no reason or concern for holding early elections”, stated Çuçi.

“It is normal that a year before the elections, we start to organize. But, this has nothing to do with a fear or concern of going to early elections. We have done the same over the years, we’ve always done it. Whenever there are elections approaching, we start organizing the party a year in advance so that to get our machinery ready for the next campaign”, said the head of the SP parliamentary group. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

Speaking to reporters after today’s parliament session where the 2024 state budget was passed in principle, Çuçi said that the opposition again “renewed the same scene, the same message through flares and smoke bombs, screams and hurled chairs.”

“Nothing new regarding their conduct in Parliament. The only new thing today is the adoption of the largest public budget in history of the last 32 years, estimated at over EUR 7 billion or twice as much as the 2013 state budget,” the senior Socialist lawmaker said,

Çuçi expressed regret that the Democratic Party’s infighting has caused the largest opposition party to completely disconnect their attention from the interest of the Albanians.

According to Çuçi, one should realize that it is not a parliamentary crisis, but just a crisis within the Democratic Party.

/u.sh/

Speaking to reporters after the parliament’s session on Thursday,  Çuçi said that despite the opposition’s scenario and actions, parliament’s proceedings will run normally.

“I am convinced that all Albanians witnessed an acceptable action by the opposition, even for a country like Albania with a long transition period, but a democratic country that is now steadily consolidating, a NATO member and a country that is negotiating to join the European Union. You all saw the scenario put together in advance by the opposition colleagues,” Çuçi said.

Today’s parliament session was disrupted after opposition MPs decided to block the rostrum and didn’t allow their Socialist colleagues to speak.

The situation got out of control and there were also physical clashes between MPs.

The opposition had already warned that there would be disruptions.

/r.e/u.sh/

“If they stick to the agreement for humanitarian purposes, of course, they are under our protection. What happened today is simply and only related to implementation of the court’s decision. The agreement will still be valid, but there should be a reflection by those for their conduct towards the Albanian institutions and observe of the law in Albania. Their actions today showed that they are not ready to abide by the laws in Albania”, said Çuçi in the joint conference for press with the General Director of the State Police Muhamet Rrumbullaku.

To the question on what illegal activity MEK members were carrying out in their camp, Çuçi said that, “What they have done is a question you should ask the prosecution”.

“The prosecutor’s office has initiated several criminal cases for this matter. It is the beginning of a criminal investigation; the prosecution is investigating for violations of the law. The prosecutor’s office should be asked, especially since it is also an investigative secret. They have carried out political activities; they have published political newspapers; it has been the subject of discussion in the ongoing conversations we have had with them”, said the minister.

Further, Çuçi answered the question about the reaction of the mujahedin council in Paris.

“We want to make it clear to them that there was no violence at any time by the Police. I don’t know how they came to the conclusion that there was violence, the opposite happened. They resisted the actions of the police. It should be clear to them and everyone that court decisions are not put into question, but implemented and not challenged. They did not even accept the court’s decision or read it, but they have gone further by carrying out opposing actions”, he said.

According to him, the claims of violence should be withdrawn because there was no violence.

Asked about coordination with international partners before and after the operation that took place today in the MEK camp, Minister Çuçi said that, “We are an independent state and when there is a court decision, it does not consult with anyone in the world; it is decision that must be implemented and the law enforcement bodies go and implement the court decision. We are in constant communication with our partners about many things, but there is no reason for this, because it is a court decision. That’s why I say that we feel insulted about the reactions of MEK members”, said Çuçi. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

Çuçi stated that the violence against the State Police by members of the MEK organization is unjustified, punishable and an attitude that puts even the hosts in a difficult position because it is a direct violation of the agreement with them.

“I feel bad and even indignant with the reaction of the members of the MEK organization to the State Police during the action. I feel sorry that Albania has offered them everything related to their shelter for humanitarian purposes, according to the agreement. Albania offered them help, security, and even protection against the threats coming from Iran’s secret services”, emphasized Çuçi.

Minister Çuçi said that, “We had concerns about non-compliance with the agreement as recently their political activity has attracted the attention of the Prosecutor’s Office in Albania”.

“SPAK has started more than one criminal case related to this matter. As in fact every law enforcement institution in Albania should act, SPAK had reasons and reasonable suspicions and strong indications. In connection with this, SPAK has asked the court to conduct an inspection and to seize the equipment that could be found in connection with the case”, said Çuçi.

According to Çuçi, the court took a decision in compliance with Albanian laws.

“It is an action that is directly related to implementation of the court’s decision to carry out controls in the territory and seize electronic devices according to the court’s decision. No one in Albania, including the members of the MEK organization who have taken refuge only for humanitarian purposes, has the right to oppose the court’s decisions,” Çuçi emphasized.

Minister Çuçi said that, “Albania has been, is and will be a hospitable country. We have not had problems with neighboring countries; we are a peaceful, tourist country; we are opening up more and more and I believe that anyone who alludes that we may have been forced to do these things by other countries, even the regime of Iran, is an unsubstantiated, false and unfounded claim for two reasons: the Albanian government did not intervene in the MEK camp; it was the court and secondly, it is our very clear attitude towards the Iranian regime. We have also cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in recent years. These are malicious actions and for political purposes”.

Minister Çuçi also informed that, “The death of the person in the camp was not caused by any action of the police forces; we are waiting for the forensic expertise; there are views from the police and from the members themselves inside the camp. Not even one member of the MEK organization was affected in the camp”./k.s/p.s./

“The present-day State Police is one of the most reliable institutions in the country; this is also confirmed by our partners who monitor and measure public evaluations. Secondly, we have started a phase of transformation and investments like never before in the State Police to further modernize this force. Our ambition to modernize the State Police through investments in technology is not a coincidence, but this plan that we have begun to implement is part of our vision Albania 2030 in the field of security”, said Çuçi.

He also mentioned the salary increase for State Police officers, as a fully deserved decision that will have an impact on the work performance of this organization. Çuçi also mentioned the twinning of the Security Academy with the Italian Police Academy.

“When this cooperation is finalized in its entirety, the students of the Security Academy will have an education similar to what is done today in an EU country like Italy”, Minister Çuçi said. At the end, he also had a piece of advice for new graduates, “Never surrender to crime, lawlessness, corruption and pressure from politics. In this profession you have chosen it is often too late to correct mistakes; you do not want to have a second chance to regain integrity. See only the law enforcement! This will make you good professionals and guarantee you a secure career in the future. Any other path does not take you forward”, said Çuçi. /r.e/p.s./

Minister of the Interior Bledi Çuçi gave the news during a briefing after the end of the government meeting.

Çuçi said that, “This postponement comes as a result of a consultation with the Central Election Commission that carries the concerns of political parties, seeing the large number of identity documents that expire or have expired by May 14.

“We decided to postpone the validity deadline and in this way all citizens will be able to vote on May 14, despite the fact that their ID card has expired”, said Çuçi./gj.m/p.s./