BRACIO DI FERRO BETWEEN FINO AND BERISHA

AIM Tirana, 28 April, 1997

When on 9 March, late in the afternoon, the Albanians heard that all political parties finally agreed about establishment of the government of national reconciliation, they were simply relieved. The agreement between the parties - the Democratic Party in power and the Socialist Party in the opposition were the main actors - was considered by everybody, the European Union and the USA inclusive, as the only way to save Albania, terrorized by violence, weapons and massive plunder. A few days later, the name became known of the man who would be at the head of the Government for the following three months, when Albania was expected to go to the polls in order to elect a new parliament. This was 35-year old Bashim Fino, former mayor of Gjirokastra, one of the cities in the south which was very badly hit by savage violence in the past months.

Nowadays, when the Government of national reconciliation has come half way, both the Albanians and foreign diplomats who are following the situation with great concern, are realizing with fear that the Government they have invested great hopes in, is increasingly shaken by problems which are raising nervousness because of possible further deterioration of the situation. Divisions and deep contradictions inside the Government, sharp polemics with President Berisha and the Parliament dominated by the majority of the Democratic Party, are seriously questioning the future of Mr. Fino's cabinet.

It was Fino who abided by pragmatic stances, who rejected numerous demands of the rebels, but of the opposition parties as well, especially the Forum for Democracy, for resignation of President Berisha. "Berisha's resignation would also mean resignation of the Government of national reconciliation", said Fino, considering this issue closed and leaving the destiny of the Albanian President to be resolved in ballot boxes, in the approaching elections. However, this "love story" has lasted very short and not long after, the first splits became evident. Easing of what might be called military tensions was accompanied by an increase of political tensions. If we would use a term used by the Italians, a "braco di ferro" has already begun between Berisha and Fini, and it is impossible to discern how it will end.

The chronology of big clashes has begun with the first two draft laws proposed by Fino - the law on abolishment of censorship in the press introduced during the state of emergency, and the law on putting state television under management of the Government, which was rejected by the Parliament dominated by the Democratic Party. Later on, when the head of the secret Albanian police Gazidede submitted his resignation, acting pursuant competences given to him by law, Fino proposed to President Berisha two names of men who could take his place, and Berisha rejected them both. The highly sensitive post of the head of the secret police is, therefore, still vacant, which in itself reflects disagreement between the Prime Minister and the President of the state.

A few days after the Government had been established, Pjetar Arbnori, Chairman of the Parliament and one of the closest Berisha's associates, gave a sharp statement: "Noone can place oneself above the Parliament which is the highest legislative authority in the state". By repeating the truth which seems to be generally known, Arbnori wished to "box Fino's ears" for his action which caused a great turmoil in the Democratic Party. Just a few days before that, Fino had opened a dialogue with "Committees of national salvation" in the south, a few formations established after disappearance of local state institutions in the riots which struck Albanian in March. At the moment these Committees are the sharpest opposition to Berisha and the Democratic Party in Albania. The discussion on Committees reached its climax not only in Albanian politics, but also in relations with the OSCE. Special envoy of the OSCE - Vranitsky, has become the target of very sharp criticism by pro-Berisha press due to the fact that he had met with representatives of these Committees a month ago and that he planned to meet them again.

The first splits threatened to cause more dramatic consequences. In the beginning of April, a line of official vehicles in which Fino was travelling with a big part of his cabinet, was prevented from continuing the journey to Skadar, the main city of the north. Armed men - it has become customary to call them "unidentified persons", but who are known to be opponents of the Socialists - threatened to open fire at the vehicle of the Prime Minister, if he tried to continue the journey. After return to Tirana, Fino sharply reacted, addressing sharp criticism at the expense of his minister of internal affairs Belul Celo, who represents the Democratic Party in the Government. "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not done its duty", declared Fino. Celo replied that the event occurred only "due to technical difficulties", and it seemed that the clash between the Minister of internal affairs and the Prime Minister ended with this, at least for the time being.

Indeed, it is the Ministry of Internal Affairs that is an "apple of discord" between the two "super powers" of Albanian politics - the Democratic and the Socialist Party. Just a few days ago, Fino and Celo had an oppotunity to quarrel again. This time the cause was one of the most controversial figures in the past period, Agim Shehu, Director General of Police and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Believed by the opposition to be one of the "state violators of law", but also to be protected by all structures of the ruling party, the destiny of lieutenant general Shehu, the man with the highest rank in Albanian police, has become the subject of controversy immediately after the Socialists and their allies had got the majority of posts in the Government. And while Shehu was in a visit to Budapest, the Government voted on relieving him of duty: twelve ministers were in favour, and the remaining four, including Celo himself, voted against. "It is an illegal decision, such personages are relieved only by decree of the President of the Republic", Celo reacted immediately. This was the second split and now it was necessary that President Berisha himself come out in the open with his stand. A spokesman of the Presidency, who is almost always anonymous, gave a statement which was even more sharply tuned than the stance of Minister Celo: "Legal norms have seriously been violated, Shehu was nominated for this post by a presidential decree in July 1995, and only the President can decide about relieving him". Fino, however, decided to continue the "struggle" concerning what is now called "the case of Shehu". "The Government sees very well the difference between the presidential decree and an administrative document, but we cannot allow persons who are not accepted by the public opinion to be at such delicate posts", he replied.

The big clash between Fino and Berisha started also to worry Europe, which is greatly involved by now by sending international military forces to Albania. Andreatta, Italian defence minister, immediately declared in Rome: "If this Government falls, a civil war will break out in this country". A few days before that, the same signal had arrived from the American Department of State: "Every change in the current Government is unacceptable", was the contents of the message from Washington which reminded all sides that they had to abide by the agreement signed on 9 March when the current Government was established. Fino was therefore forced to "give in". "We did not know that Shehu was nominated by the President, but be it as it may, we will now demand from Berisha to remove him". The story of Shehu and along with it the big clash between Berisha and Fino, in all probability it will continue, increasing the danger of a possible crisis of the Government. If this happened, things may quickly deteriorate: prospects of new elections will be indefinitely postponed and the country will once again sink into anarchy, instead of consolidation of governing which is urgently needed.

Controversies between the Government on one and Chairman of the Parliament on the other side, have already acquired dangerous proportions. Dangerous to such an extent that because of it the Albanians often tend to forget the long list of victims which is in the meanwhile continuing to grow.

AIM Tirana Arjana LEKA