Do not deny Albin Kurti the credit for the protests in Tirana

The debate over Albanians from Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia coming to the protest is deeply hypocritical.

Edi Rama’s attempt to separate them from Albin Kurti and from the diaspora is pointless, unnecessary and unfair. It denies Kurti credit for the work he has spent years doing, ever since he became Kosovo’s acting prime minister.

It does not matter whether someone calls them diaspora or Albanian citizens from neighbouring states.

They are Albanians from four neighbouring countries who support Albin Kurti’s line against Edi Rama’s government in Tirana.

If we do not accept that, we are being hypocritical.

In fact, Kurti is more honest about this than most of his defenders. He has never hidden his desire to be a political factor in North Macedonia, among Albanians in Serbia, in Montenegro and in Albania.

In North Macedonia, he has openly supported a political wing that cooperates with power there and has weakened the political weight of Albanians. In Presevo, he has his own squad. In Montenegro, his own homeland, the same. In Albania, he has even come and voted against Edi Rama.

So do not take away the credit he has worked so hard to earn.

He does not hide it himself.

He has managed to build his own Albanian squad in North Macedonia and in Presevo. In Montenegro, he has created about five Albanian parties, one for each village. In Albania, he has sent his entire cabinet to the front of the protest.

Only Mihali has not come, because she does not move without her boss.

There is no doubt that the Kosovo Albanians who come here to protest alongside citizens of Albania are not only inspired by Albin Kurti. They are organised by him too.

But this is not a disaster.

In fact, it does the government no harm.

The government’s concern is with its own citizens, not with their admirers. Its political battle is with its own voters, not with Albin Kurti’s voters.

So do not deny them the credit for this battle. Kurti’s entire political staff is in Tirana with the organisers, and their effort should be respected.

Their presence does not damage the government. It only increases the self-satisfaction of the organisers, who look bigger with them around.

The only long-term political damage such movements can create is a stronger sense of division between Albanians in Albania and Albanians living in neighbouring states, for political reasons.

But this has happened before.

After the Second World War, many Albanians in Albania developed an anti-Kosovo feeling because of the February 4 massacre, which was associated with Xhafer Deva. In Kosovo, there was hostility toward Albania because Albania was associated with the partisans who went to support Tito’s anti-fascist army.

After 1990, many Albanians in Albania again developed anti-Kosovo feelings because Kosovo politics interfered on Berisha’s side in damaging moments inside Albania, including the 1994 referendum.

But when the Kosovo war came, all of that disappeared. Albania opened its doors and its heart.

That is the most damage Kurti’s involvement in Albania, in Kosovo’s name, can do.

Nothing more.

The only thing that could make it worse is if the “hero” who removed the Israeli flag from the embassy in Tirana yesterday also turns out to be part of them, especially since Ditmir Bushati has assured us he was not encouraged by Iran.

But do not deny Albin Kurti credit for the work on which he spends more time than forming a government in his own country.

Kosovo has been without a government for two years because Kurti wants all power for himself. Yet he comes to Albania to protest because Edi Rama is in power.

Kosovo has gone through three sets of elections and keeps moving from one election to another because Kurti wants more power than the votes he received give him. Yet he comes to Albania to protest because the government here cannot be brought down after winning too many votes.

Kurti has the lowest citizen-freedom rating in the Balkans, according to Freedom House, far below Albania. Yet he comes to Tirana to protest in the name of citizens’ freedom.

Kurti has a media-freedom rating far below Albania’s. Yet he comes to Tirana to protest for media freedom.

Kurti’s party is a political guillotine for anyone who refuses to call him “Father”. Yet he comes to “Mother Albania” to find her a “father” like himself.

So Edi Rama is right to ignore Kurti’s involvement in Tirana, because it is politically insignificant.

But if Rama claims to respect him, he should at least not deny him the credit.

Originally published in Albanian as: Mos ia hiqni Albin Kurtit meritat për protestat në Tiranë