Erdogan’s declarations cause reactions in Tirana

Debates spurred among Albanian analysts after the Turkish President, Recep Taip Erdogan, promised to double annual Turkish investments in Albania up to 1 billion EUR; offered a generous fund package for the construction of the newest Tirana mosque, the construction of the new Parliament building and the restoration of 26 museum homes in Gjirokaster. The debates came after Erdogan’s declaration of what seemed a condition for the realization of these promises, an open request to Tirana for not supporting and even prosecuting the Gulen Movement, also operating in Albania’s education area, which the Turkish president considered a terrorist group. 

“Erdogan’s visit was a very political one. His declaration was an extension of Turkey’s internal political conflicts”, declared Ferdinand Gjana, Rector of the “Hena e Plote Beder” University.

“We heard promises for a bigger Turkish engagement in our economy, which should be welcomed, but on the other hand it is clear that Albania is a sovereign country, focused on the EU integration; a country that should be always careful with its internal security and should not import other conflicts”, declared Piro Misha, scholar.

“The Turkish policy is that no matter who is in power in Albania, they have a constant policy of offering help without conditions. These declarations were unexpected and not related to the reality of Albania”, declared Lutfi Dervishi, an analyst.

According to them, the Gulen Movement is a civilian movement and its name doesn’t appear as a terrorist organization in any UN list .

“The Gulen Movement is an evaluation of the Islam values that respects democracy. As for the term “terrorism”, in  modern times we have the international right, the UN conventions which make it clear what is part of this category. We haven’t seen any procedure like this so far”, declared rector Ferdinand Gjana.

“The word ‘terrorism’ sounded exaggerated, because it has another meaning. It is being used very frequently, even in the acse of Kumanova. But these discussions might be more valuable in a political context. However, the Albanian government must see its own interest. If there are elements who violate the Albanian law, they must intervene. If their schools have a normal activity, there’s no place for intervention and hurting the interests of students and of their families who paid”, Misha says.

“The word ‘terrorist’ is the last one that can be used and it is not up to Mr.Erdogan to decide who is a terrorist. He should have been more careful, the sons of the people present in this conversation have studied in Turkish colleges and have held positions from where they couls see if there were suspicious investments, Dervishi declared.

According to Misha and Dervishi, Tirana must make a clear stance regarding the Gulen Movement in Albania.

“Turkey is one of the main allies. I think the Albanian government must make a clear stance”, Misha declared.

“The policies so far have been for fraternal helps without conditions. Going over this would be unacceptable and I don’t understand why the government of Tirana has not articulated it yet”, declared Lutfi Dervishi.