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Arben Taravari on the changes in the Criminal Code and the Gruevski case

2023-09-09 22:26:34, Kosova & Bota CNA

The head of the Alliance for Albanians in North Macedonia, Arben Taravari, commented for the Voice of America on the concerns that have prompted the recent changes in the Criminal Code.

Experts and representatives of the opposition say that reducing the prison sentence for state officials involved in abuse of office, or for criminal offenses such as "criminal association", are a prerequisite for increasing the level of corruption, in a country that has great concerns in this regard. direction.

The deputies of the Alliance for Albanians party did not vote in favor of these changes in the session of the parliament that was held on Wednesday, so the proposal came with the signature of the deputy minister and the Prime Minister and not the Minister of Justice, the latter a representative of ASH.

Mr. Taravari said that he will ask the Minister of Justice to explain to the party if the changes were made in accordance with the requirements of the European Union or if something else is behind them.

The President of ASH also talks about the issue of constitutional changes and the political deadlock created by the impossibility of the parliamentary majority to secure the necessary votes for the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the constitution, as a state-forming nation, a request of the EU.

Mr. Taravari says that it is expected to be seen if some warnings that VMRO-DPMNE or its deputies will vote at the last moment for these changes, if this does not happen, he says, North Macedonia will be separated from Albania is in the process of integration and will be left behind, with countries that have very big problems.

Voice of America: Mr. Taravari, the Parliament of North Macedonia recently approved some amendments to the Penal Code, which reduce the prison sentence of state officials involved in abuse of office (Now the sentences for these offenses will not be higher than five years ) as well as the reduction of the maximum sentence for the crime of "criminal association", from 10 to 3 years in prison. The opposition and experts say that these changes are a premise for increasing the level of corruption, and that they were made to save corrupt officials. How do you see these concerns? It is true that your deputies did not vote in favor of these changes, and neither did they vote against them.

Arben Taravari:It is true that all 8 deputies of the Alliance for Albanians (ASH) did not vote in favor of these changes. I am not an expert in justice, especially in the Criminal Code, and I cannot give clarifications on how these laws are in European countries. I know that we are one step before the start of negotiations (with the EU) and I hope that the Minister of Justice, who is from the ranks of ASH, will make an analysis and tell us in front of the party bodies whether this change in the law was made for bring it into compliance with European laws, or is there something outside of it. I have information that the minister did not agree to sign (the changes) and the deputy minister of justice and the prime minister were the proposers. But the next day we will analyze all the circumstances. It is true that our deputies voted for the agenda for that day.

Voice of America: Mr. Taravari, however, don't you think that changes in laws like these should reflect the reality in North Macedonia. Your country has serious problems with corruption and the rule of law. Citizens' trust in the judicial system is very low. Don't you think these changes give a hand to the problems?

Arben Taravari:Corruption is a problem of all the countries of the Western Balkans, but also of North Macedonia. The Alliance for Albanians had one of the key requirements for entering the government to lead the Ministry of Justice, in the direction of the fight against crime and corruption. I do not know just one thing, are these changes in accordance with European laws, or is it something extraordinary or special. If it is something extraordinary, not in accordance with European laws, then we have to sit down and talk and decide how to proceed further, since the rule of law cannot function like this. We then practically do things that help criminals survive, and even create more of them. Therefore, we will examine it as a law within the party and make decisions. But let's not hurry,

Voice of America: Albanian opposition parties have said that the changes pave the way for the return to the country of the former prime minister, Nikola Gruevski, sentenced in absentia to 7 years in prison.

Arben Taravari: I do not believe that these changes would help Mr. Gruevski since he has many cases for which he is accused, if I am not mistaken there are about 9 cases, and that I believe that the amendment of the Criminal Code, in my opinion, would help Mr. Gruevski who to return to North Macedonia.

Voice of America: Mr. Taravari, the issue of constitutional changes continues to be a concern in your country. Due to the lack of votes, Parliament is not able to include the Bulgarian minority as a state-forming nation in the constitution, a request of the EU. You also said in this studio a while ago that early elections could be an option. But that didn't happen either. What could unlock the situation?

Arben Taravari : Macedonia is really in a political impasse. We must start negotiations together with Albania. Albania has no obstacles, North Macedonia has to make these constitutional changes. The largest Macedonian opposition party is against this and without their help the constitutional changes will not pass unfortunately. But in the period that is before us, until the new year, especially in September, it will be known if there are any signals from the MPs of the Macedonian opposition.

VOA: Are there signals?

Arben Taravari: Right now there is no signal even though it has been warned that there is a possibility that the changes will happen, that at the last moment VMRO-DPMNE or MPs from this party will vote for these changes otherwise, if this does not happen, by the year new, Albania will secede and North Macedonia will remain with states that have very big problems such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo. And then North Macedonia will enter a dead end from which I don't know how we will get out. As far as early elections are concerned, according to the suggestions of all our friends, I mean the EU and the USA, they have asked to give constitutional changes a chance, while the regular presidential elections are in March 2024 and the parliamentary ones in July 2024. but they can be united and kept together so that citizens' money is not wasted.

Voice of America: Mr. Taravari, you yourself are a doctor by profession (neurologist). How do you see the scandal at the Oncology Clinic, where, according to reports, medicines for cancer patients were stolen? The Minister of Health is a representative of your party. How can such cases be avoided in the future?

Arben Taravari: This case is scandalous. What has happened is that patients have been given placebos rather than drugs and they have been sold elsewhere. I congratulate the minister for being very open and insisting to the justice bodies that this case be clarified to the end. And I wish and hope that such cases will not be repeated. Currently we do not know if it is about one or 1 thousand patients who were victims of what happened, but even if it is about even one, it is unethical and immoral and definitely and under any circumstances the ministry must insist on justice bodies, so that this case is punished, with the goal that it will never be repeated./ VOA