Auron Tare: The debate should remain focused on the protesters’ demands, not on Dritan Goxhaj

This Friday, researcher Auron Tare gave an interview to Euronews Albania with host Thimi Samarxhiu, where he commented on developments related to the protest in Tirana. During the conversation, he also touched on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statements about Dritan Goxhaj, emphasizing that the essence of the issue is not whether or not he was with the KLA, but the demands that are being raised.

Tare said his vision would be of a state that decides its own fate and does not move according to momentary interests, sometimes making concessions to one side and sometimes to another. According to him, only a sovereign state that protects its own interests can earn respect.

He said that Europe, America, Israel and Turkey respect you only when you are master of your own country and act in line with its interests.

According to Tare, the question that should be asked is whether our state is working for the interests of the young people who have come out onto the boulevard or for the interests of others. He raised concern that continuous concessions are being made, mentioning refugees, the MEK camp, the camps in Shëngjin and the cemeteries, which he said are being opened according to the wishes of other countries. Tare recalled that until 2013, the MEK was considered a terrorist organization and added that they were brought here because no one else wanted them. For this reason, according to him, the country is without a backbone, and that is precisely why those people are protesting: because they are demanding dignity and a state that makes decisions for their country, without leaving decision-making in the hands of others.

He also said that he does not believe this is the same Rama he knew before, but that, in his view, we are dealing with a different Rama.

Tare went on to stress that attention is being diverted away from the fundamental issues. According to him, the focus should be on the boulevard and the protesters’ demands, not on the debate over whether Dritan Goxhaj was or was not part of the KLA. He said that for those who know Dritan, including himself, it is known that he was, but he considered this a very distant story and added that Dritan himself should come forward and defend himself against any accusations that may have been made against him.

Tare called this a classic shift of attention, adding that there is nothing unusual about this way of operating. According to him, for a moment people fell into that trap, but he believes they are returning once again to the debate that carries real weight: the boulevard, the demands and the calls for the political class to go home. As for Dritan Goxhaj, he said that he is continuing with his life, is free, takes part in the protest and that there is nothing wrong with that.