Basha's confession about "January 21": I received information that the killed were members of the State Police

Former Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha says he has been abandoned by individuals who have been by his side for personal interests and not those who have believed in the mission and the protection of the interests of Albanians.

While confirming participation in the May 11 elections, he said that work is underway on a program and list of MPs.

During an interview with Voice of America, asked about his responsibilities in the conditions when the Democratic Party suffered the greatest division in history during his leadership, Mr. Basha said that "my responsibility was to make a difficult decision," referring to the expulsion of Mr. Sali Berisha.

Regarding the January 21 event, for which investigations have been reopened, Mr. Basha stated that political interests have prevented its clarification by justice.

Mr. Lulzim Basha was Minister of Interior when the Garda shot at the protesters, as was also published in an audio that was made public a few months ago. The Garda is subordinate to the Minister of Interior. Asked if he was aware of the actions that the Garda was taking, Mr. Basha said: "I had absolutely nothing to do with what happened. I will even say something that in the first minutes I received information that the victims were members of the state police."

Voice of America: Mr. Basha, from a politician with a fast career, you were a minister, mayor of Tirana and then leader of the opposition for many years, today you find yourself without a political party, abandoned by almost everyone who supported you. Where do you think you went wrong?

Lulzim Basha: Fortunately, I have been abandoned by those who do not believe in the mission, but in the chair. In fact, one of the most important lessons of these three years is that even if they had not left, I should have done everything to avoid having them around. These are people who do not justify the trust of the public, the trust of democratic voters in 2021. They are people who have placed personal interests above the interests of democrats and Albanians, not only with words but also with votes, such as joining votes with Edi Rama to release Edi Rama's corrupt people from prison in the infamous amnesty, which has already been documented by the European Union's progress report. But the good news is that many democrats and many Albanians have not given up and believe that Albania has a chance to leave behind this 34-year-old impasse and the attempt of the transition dinosaurs to continue to hold Albania hostage for their interests, against the interests of Albanians. This is exactly where we find ourselves, Euro-Atlantic democrats and all those Albanians who are eagerly awaiting change.

Voice of America: Mr. Basha, you have appealed to the court what is known as the Democratic Party seal issue and have stated that regardless of the decision, you will participate in the May 11 race. What do you realistically expect from these elections?

Lulzim Basha: In terms of standards, it is now clear that in collaboration with that part of the opposition, which for its own interests collaborates with Edi Rama against the interests of Albanians, Edi Rama has stopped the electoral reform process and none of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations have been approved. Moreover, they have closed the lists together, another joint action, because without the votes of the opposition this would be impossible, depriving Albanian citizens of the right to elect those who want the Albanian Parliament, and not the leaders of political parties, deputies and members of parliament. So in terms of standards, it is undeniable that not only we, but also international partners have raised major concerns. However, I believe that these elections, although they will take place in a climate without many changes from the 2021 one, while they have come out, the wiretaps have been published on how organized crime in Durrës, in the case of Çyrbja, in Elbasan with the Elbasan gangs, and in other cases, helped Edi Rama, giving him many mandates. It is even clear that Edi Rama's mandate itself is the product of cooperation with the so-called Durrës gangs, that is, with organized crime in Durrës, even though most Albanians are impatient for a change. They want to close this chapter. We believe that even in difficult conditions, as our history has shown, but also the history of other nations, the presentation of a credible alternative program, which addresses the concerns of citizens that are not talked about, because the media in Albania only broadcast political theater between these old protagonists and with a reliable team, people who have proven that they know that they stand for the interests of Albanians even if this harms their personal interests, still change is possible. This is what we will try to do with our program, list and alliances.

Voice of America: Do you have the list, do you have the team ready, Mr. Basha?

Lulzim Basha: It is in process. I believe that we have made good progress in these last two months and I believe that we will soon be able to publish a good part of the names of our candidates for deputies.

Voice of America: Mr. Basha, however, in the years that you led the Democratic Party, this political force suffered its greatest division, like never before. What responsibility do you have for this?

Lulzim Basha: My responsibility was to make a difficult decision. If I were to accept that the Democratic Party would enter a collision course, not simply with the strategic ally of Albania and Albanians, the United States of America and later Great Britain, but would enter a collision course that the Albanian right, in particular the Democratic Party, have their own DNA, which is Euro-Atlanticism, cooperation with these factors, which every Albanian recognizes as the merit of overthrowing communism, of helping democratic Albania, of advancing our national cause, both through NATO membership, and through the liberation, independence and protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo and of Albanians in North Macedonia and elsewhere. So, it was a difficult decision because many of the consequences that later followed were clearly warned by the other side, but it was the right decision. It is a decision that belongs to a responsible leadership that must decide on a difficult path whether it serves the greater interest, the interest of the right, the interest of Albania, or a decision that would put personal interest above the interests of the group.

Voice of America: So, if you were to go back, would you make the same decision?

Lulzim Basha: There is no doubt about this. Categorically, the decision was made after Mr. Berisha's decision to avoid a collision course of the Democratic Party and to preserve the identity of the Democratic Party and the Democrats as a bastion of the center-right in Albania.

Voice of America: Mr. Basha, which part of the right are you addressing and why should they follow you after you failed to bring what was the largest opposition force to power?

Lulzim Basha: In the 2021 elections, as Mr. Berisha and all those who raised the storm of defeat for two years in a row now admit, the 2021 elections were elections manipulated by Mr. Rama in collaboration with organized crime. It is clear that our effort for change was not successful, not because of our shortcomings, but because of the massive involvement of organized crime and other problems that you just revealed in the previous chronicle of the administration's pressure on citizens, the use of public money and resources, etc. etc... the list is very long. The list is the OSCE's, not ours or the opposition's. If you are talking only about the right, because our program is addressed to all Albanian citizens, I would highlight three aspects.

The first aspect undoubtedly has to do with the core of the historical Albanian right, which are the persecuted and the Albanian owners. For the first time in 34 years, the Euro-Atlantic Democrats, with the program announced on June 1, have taken responsibility for those decisions that do not concern us, from the 7,501 to the discrimination of the politically persecuted for raising their voices and not promoting their cause. While in relation to the owners, in particular, we believe that by following the example of Croatia and with the help of our European allies, we have the most credible and feasible program to solve the property issue once and for all. The second category has to do with entrepreneurship. Low taxes as a fuel for the Albanian economy, for the engine of the Albanian economy and many other proposals related to deregulation. And the third group is the Albanian family, which is in a deep crisis due to the 12-year misgovernment of Edi Rama.

Voice of America: Mr. Basha, I would like to address another issue. The investigations for January 21 have been reopened. You have repeated several times that you are not afraid of investigations and that those who have violated the law should be afraid. But you were the interior minister at the time when the Guard fired on the protesters, as was also published in an audio that was made public a few months ago. The Guard is subordinate to the interior minister. Were you not aware of the actions it was taking?

Lulzim Basha: Everything I have stated, and one of the most complete statements I made right here, I believe a few months after the tragic event of January 21, I stand by it 100 percent. This is an issue that should have been clarified by justice. Political interests have prevented its clarification by justice. Prime Minister Rama himself has misused this event, starting from the reason of January 21 which he promoted, made co-government, president and others, to those he pointed his finger at as a firing squad and made chairmen of the Socialist Party, mayors of the Socialist Party. So every time politics misuses such tragic events, the truth is buried. But the time has come for this truth to be clarified and it will be clarified by justice. It is the duty of justice to clarify it.

Voice of America: Mr. Basha, were you aware of the order?

Lulzim Basha: I had absolutely nothing to do with what happened. I will even say something that in the first minutes I received information that the victims were members of the state police. But this is a statement of little value for what happened. It is a painful event. Justice and only justice must be allowed to work in complete independence, with professionalism and away from political interests to solve everything, for every criminal event, for every event where people have tragically lost their lives, including January 21.

Voice of America: The prosecution ordered the arrest of the leaders of the Guard at that time, but the police refused to carry out the prosecution's order. Does this weigh on you as the head of the institution?

Lulzim Basha: The implementation of the law has been and remains the main criterion of every public and political activity of mine. This is what distinguishes you today in Albania from what is called the Bermuda Triangle. This is what differentiates me in mentality as far as the law is concerned, as far as the present and future of Albanians are concerned. So categorically, in every public and political act of mine throughout all these years, in every capacity, the implementation of the law and only the implementation of the law has been my mantra and insistence in every case, including this case.