The $6 million contract for lobbying the Democratic Party in the US signed between the “Make Albania Great Again” foundation and the American company “Continental Consulting” has no connection to the election campaign, but aims to represent the opposition's causes with the American administration and improve relations between Albania and the US. This was stated by Sali Berisha in a press conference where he emphasized that the contract is completely legal, published in the American FARA registry and does not include any electoral aspect.
"It has nothing to do with elections, at all! There is an article, article 21 of the law on political parties. An article that authorizes political parties to receive aid, financial support from other political forces, international political party organizations and foundations. So, the contract is 100 percent based on the law. Regarding the millions you are counting, don't forget, the contract has an article according to which the parties, in any circumstance that they consider beneficial for themselves, terminate the contract. Therefore, you cannot talk about 6 million, you cannot even talk about 100 thousand or 200 thousand. The contract is dependent on the requests of the parties, the agreement of the parties, the objectives of the parties. But one thing is certain, the opposition people no longer have an orphan cause. In that great country, that cause has a great lawyer. This contract with the number 1 lawyer aims to protect the causes of the opposition people from a narco-dictator", declared Berisha.
He stressed that the Democratic Party is not a contracting party, but has accepted the service as support from a foundation formed by “anti-communist patriots” who, according to him, see Edi Rama as a threat to democracy and pluralism in the country. According to Berisha, the contract is not comparable to the “McGonigal” case or to the prime minister’s previous lobbying, which he accuses of being carried out in a secret and corrupt manner.
"It wasn't the PD, it was the foundation. Mr. Noka signed that he accepts the service. But not the contracting party. If in the case with Mr. Chris LaCivita we are the contracting party as the PD, in the other case, the contracting party is the foundation of Albanian patriots and democrats. We cannot replace them. This is very simple. We do not deny that we have accepted and signed to accept the service, but we are not the contracting party. I believe it is clear. The PD did not give a single penny, it is a foundation that gives the money. But one thing, even if the PD has given it from its own coffers, the cause is worth every penny. Because we get this. Edi Rama eliminates the Tirana arsonist, steals 130 million euros and continues to be said to be an outstanding leader. Who did he punish for stealing 130 million euros? Did he punish the rich? None of them. He punished the poor. 130 million euros is 812 thousand pensions. That's why I said they can to pay the DP penny for penny to protect every Albanian, because they have become... this is a narco-dictator. With what he has done to Albanians, he has driven out 1 million Albanians. I say that any kind of expense to create transparency, to make the anatomy of a narco-dictator, is valuable for every Albanian citizen. This is the truth.
Berisha said that this agreement aims to denounce before American institutions what he described as Edi Rama's "narco-dictatorship", citing cases such as the incinerator affairs and the unsolved electoral crime files. According to him, the contract between the famous lawyer and the "Make Albania Great Again" foundation is transparent.
"PD and ASHM have the same causes. That's all. That is, this coalition agrees that Albania is a narco-state, that Edi Rama is a narco-dictator. That Edi Rama has put justice in complete control. You saw how they reacted or not. You saw. Of course there will be transparency. What does PPE say? It says about impunity because files 184, 339, are a sign of shame on the necks of those who keep them, shame is written on those who keep them. Anyone who knows American law and knows that the contract is published in FARA, everyone gets it, there is nothing to hide here at all. But the contract is between the famous lawyer and the 'Make Albania Great Again' foundation."
He added that every effort for transparency and protection of the opposition is for the benefit of every Albanian citizen. (A2 Televizion)
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