Dear citizens, dear President Meta, Albanians, Europeans:

Europe will be grateful to have you as part of the European Union, because Albania is an important part with all its culture and courage, for all Europe.

I came today, on my birthday, to see a man whom I have known for many years. I wanted to see this man who has run his country successfully as President and Prime Minister and brought this country closer to Europe and gained its NATO membership.

 But I wanted to meet a European record holder who was stopped as leader of the opposition for 134 days to go to Parliament and to fight for the rights of his people.

I don't want to interfere in this country's politics. I love Albania as a whole and not its political matters, but I believe that in Europe, which unites under the rule of democracy and the rule of law, a man should not be prohibited to go to Parliament until a court has taken a decision that he is guilty.

We have to see that part of democracy is that a member of Parliament has immunity, and that immunity protects your position against the government in any country. That is part of democracy and the rule of law.

There is a ruling of the Europan Court of Human Rights which has said very explicitly that  immunity can not be taken way by the Parliament, and no state body can do that and prevent someone from going to Parliament.

This is a European ruling; this is a violation of European law if such a thing happens in a country.

Therefore, we fight very much for Albanian membership in the EU. Part of this is to keep European tradition and democratic laws. I hope that such behavior against the opposition does not hinder Albanian membership in the EU.

If someone is guilty, an independent court has to decide that, not a prosecutor, who said that "usually the courts follow our proposals." This is not an independent judiciary.

Therefore, I hope for the independence of the judiciary of this country and that leaders of the opposition can do their jobs freely for their country. If there are any wrongdoings by a member of the opposition or by a member of the government, then an independent court should take action, but under the rules of European law and the decisions of the European Court of Justice.

I hope to bring this country forward and bring Europe forward.

We need Albania into the EU, therefore we should work together.