Elez Biberaj – Page 4 – Dielli

ALBANIA’S 2013 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS:POLITICAL PROSPECTS AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGES

May 7, 2013 by dgreca

DR. ELEZ BIBERAJ*/
DIRECTOR/
EURASIA DIVISION/
VOICE OF AMERICA/

PRESENTATION AT THE U.S. HELSINKI COMMISSION/
MAY 6, 2013/

Mr. Chairman and Members of the U.S. Helsinki Commission! Thank you very much for the invitation to testify before your Commission. It is an honor for me to appear before you and to offer my personal views on Albania’s political prospects and democratic challenges.
The June 2013 parliamentary elections will mark a milestone in Albania’s political development. They will be a test of the country’s democratic maturity and of its bid to join the European Union. How the Albanians conduct these elections will be important not only for the country’s democratic progress and future direction but also for regional political and economic stability.
Albania’s record of contested elections and post-election disputes have set the tiny Balkan country apart from most other young, East European democracies, and tarnished the remarkable progress that Albania has made over the last two decades. Once again, the continuing confrontational nature of Albanian politics and some developments during the pre-election period, particularly the dispute over the composition of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), have raised concerns regarding Albania’s ability to hold free and fair elections in accordance with international standards.
The upcoming elections offer both challenges and opportunities for Albania. The inability to hold smooth elections is politically risky given Albania’s polarization and domestic political context, characterized as it is with a dysfunctional relationship between the country’s two main political actors, that have alternated political power since the demise of Communism – the ruling Democratic Party and the opposition Socialist Party. A negative assessment will hamper Albania’s political stability, signal deterioration in democratic practices, and complicate Tirana’s relationship with the United States and the European Union.
Conversely, credible elections, whose results are certified by domestic and international observers and accepted by the major players, will open new opportunities. Albania will be able to build on the significant political and economic progress it has achieved in recent years, strengthen its role as a constructive regional actor, and significantly improve its EU accession prospects.
Albania has the capacity to hold fully credible elections as is expected from a NATO member and an aspiring member of the European Union. Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama have committed themselves to do their utmost to ensure smooth elections. The United States and the European Union have strongly urged both sides to abide by democratic rules.

BACKGROUND AND POLITICAL CONTEXT

Albania has made remarkable progress in terms of its economic and political development and efforts to join Euro-Atlantic institutions. Once the most reclusive and isolated state in Europe, Albania has become a responsible member of NATO. It has also emerged as a strong proponent of regional cooperation and reconciliation, and has developed a strategic partnership with the United States. Albania seems to have weathered the global economic crisis relatively well, although economic growth rates have declined. Real GDP growth in 2012 was 1.6 percent, down from 3.0 percent in 2011 and 3.5 percent in 2010. Prime Minister Berisha’s government has made significant efforts in improving governance, reducing poverty and unemployment, improving the country’s business climate, and launching a huge public infrastructure program.
But while prosperity has expanded, Albania remains stricken with poverty and high unemployment. The economic crisis in Greece and Italy, Albania’s most important economic partners, has had a significant impact, leading to a drop in capital and remittance inflows. Although the government has taken measures to reduce the costs of doing business in Albania, attracting foreign investment has been a challenge because of investors’ skepticism, perceived corruption, and ineffective bureaucracy.
The Albanian political landscape is fundamentally different today than it was twenty years ago. Yet, Albanian politics remain deadlocked and deeply dysfunctional. Some of the difficulties that Albania has encountered on its road to a consolidated democracy can be ascribed to the country’s lack of a democratic culture, the Communist legacy, and economic underdevelopment. However, the current high level of politicization and fragmentation is the direct result of the two major parties refusing to engage in the give-and-take that is normally associated with a democratic order. Their overriding objective has been to gain and keep power. To this end, they have often engaged in questionable democratic practices.
The failure to embrace the rule of law, rampant corruption, and political stagnation has left the country bereft of durable, democratic and civic institutions. Public goods have largely been distributed on a preferential basis. Political elites have amassed huge personal wealth, while many ordinary Albanians lack access to basic goods and services. Basic institutions of governance and civil society groups are weak and under constant political pressure. Transfer of power from one political party to another has invariably been associated with efforts to subvert what in theory should be non-partisan functioning institutions, without much respect for fundamental democratic principles.
Power holders have also not shied away from institutional displacement and from attempts to rewrite the rules from one election to another. Electoral systems and electoral laws have undergone significant changes almost during every election cycle since the first multi-party elections in 1991. The 2009 election code, which was revised in 2012, changed the electoral system from mixed to a regional proportional system. It established a 3 percent threshold for political parties and a 5 percent threshold for pre-election coalitions.
In most cases, these changes were viewed as positive and a step in the right direction; after all, they were the result of an agreement between the country’s main political forces and addressed recommendations by international organizations, particularly the OSCE/ODHIR. The CEC, which has the responsibility to conduct the elections, has been subject to constant and intense political interference. This has prevented it from developing into an empowered and truly non-partisan, administrative body. According to a formula agreed to in 2012, the ruling coalition proposes four of the CEC’s seven members, and the opposition the other three. Following the decision of the junior partner, the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), to leave the government in early April 2013, Democratic Party deputies, with the support of three Socialist deputies, voted to replace the member of the CEC that had been proposed by the SMI. This was followed by the resignation of the three members nominated by the opposition, rendering the CEC incapable of effectively administering the elections. Thus far the two sides have shown lack of political will to compromise and reconstitute the CEC. As this dispute demonstrates, the lack of a stable electoral infrastructure has undermined confidence in the election process and the administration of the elections.

POLITICAL GRIDLOCK

Since the 2009 elections, which the Democratic Party won by a narrow vote, Albania has experienced a serious crisis of institutionalization and relations between the government and the opposition have been marked by constant tensions. The OSCE/ODIHR report said the elections met most OSCE commitments, but added that they “did not fully realize Albania’s potential to adhere to the highest standards for democratic elections.” The Socialists contested the results, boycotted the parliament, and resorted to threats, ultimatums, and disruptive actions in pursuit of their demands. They shunned government calls for cooperation and stymied efforts to pass important legislation. The Democrats maintained an uncompromising attitude and refused to take any meaningful measures to reach out to the opposition.
Berisha’s Democratic Party formed a coalition with Ilir Meta’s Socialist Movement for Integration and launched an ambitious agenda of promoting economic development, reducing poverty, developing the infrastructure, creating jobs, and combatting corruption. Meta, a former senior Socialist Party leader who had served as prime minister, had split with the Socialists and formed the SMI in 2004. The improbable coalition between the two rivals-turned-allies worked relatively well. However, Meta’s trial on corruption charges – based on a video, released by his former deputy Dritan Prifti, which purported to show Meta discussing bribe taking – eroded the coalition’s popularity. His case became a source of acute embarrassment and cast an unflattering light not only on Meta and his party but also on Berisha’s government. The Socialists made Meta the focus of their corruption criticism, and the violence that erupted in January 2011, in which four opposition supporters were killed in clashes with police forces, was sparked by popular anger at Meta. The Socialists vehemently criticized Meta’s acquittal in early 2012, insisting that it send the message that the courts were corrupt and top politicians immune from prosecution.
The dispute over the elections led to a long political impasse, diverted attention from pressing economic and social challenges, stalled progress on key reforms, and tarnished Albania’s image and democratic credentials. While there is a wide consensus on the importance and potential benefits of Albania’s integration into the European Union, Albanian leaders permitted short-term political considerations to trump the country’s EU integration. In December 2012, the European Commission refused, for the third year in a row, to grant Albania candidate status.
Albania has received wide praise for its constructive regional role. The foreign policies of the two major parties have not diverged significantly. However, Kosova’s declaration of independence in 2008 has led to an increased expression of pan-Albanian sentiments throughout the Balkans. The celebration of Albania’s 100th anniversary of independence in November 2012 was associated with a sudden and surprising increase in nationalistic rhetoric. Berisha and other top Albanian leaders invoked the historical Albanian narrative, and raised the specter of the unification of all Albanians into one state. While the nationalistic rhetoric was seen by many as an attempt by the prime minister to neutralize the newly formed Red and Black Alliance, which advocates the unification of Albania and Kosova, Berisha’s comments triggered a harsh international response. In the wake of international criticism that the nationalistic rhetoric threatened U.S. and EU security objectives of regional cooperation promotion, Berisha and other senior officials tempered their nationalist rhetoric.
Kosova’s independence, Albania’s membership in NATO and the increased empowerment of Albanians in Macedonia, Montenegro, and southern Serbia have given Albanians throughout the region a new sense of confidence and unprecedented security. But despite the revival of Albanian nationalism and patriotism, the idea of Albanian national unification has not become a dominant theme in Albania’s public discourse nor is it a salient issue in these elections. Mainstream Albanian leaders in Tirana and Prishtina have developed a new narrative that conveys the opportunities of EU integration and emphasizes the benefits of regional cooperation.

THE JUNE 2013 ELECTIONS: A NEW OPPORTUNITY

The development of party politics in Albania is in many ways similar to that in other emerging democracies. Political parties are dominated by their leaders, who enjoy unchallenged authority to select candidates for elections. The established elite remains firmly entrenched and politics highly informal and personal. In general, political parties are not well defined, and they are composed of fractious coalitions that converge on some core issues but differ on others. There are also deep divisions between and among political parties. With the passage of time, it has become difficult to distinguish between party platforms since they tend to shun ideology in favor of pragmatism and are characterized by a lack of specifics. Despite some variation, most pretend to address the same issues: unemployment, combating corruption, improving services, attracting foreign investments, and implementing institutional reforms. The ideological gap between the right and the left may not have disappeared, but it has definitely narrowed significantly. Decisions on coalitions are driven more by crude power considerations than by ideology or political programs. The best example of shifting political alliances and the coalescence of disparate political forces lacking a deep political alignment was the Democratic Party’s coalition in 2009 with the SMI.
While Albania has a very vibrant and free media, most media outlets have aligned themselves with either the Democrats or the Socialists. Both sides have used the media to buttress popular perception of their own leadership, while questioning the ability of their foe to effectively lead the country. Instead of focusing on providing accurate and balanced reporting, most media have made a mockery of journalistic objectivity.
The various political forces have made increased use of social media to publicize their political programs and engage potential voters. Both Berisha and Rama are active social media users and have a significant following. Berisha regularly posts messages on Facebook, while Rama is an avid and engaging user of Twitter. They have shied away from a debate, relying on face to face interactions with voters, town hall meetings, and news conferences. Both have engaged in a campaign aimed at delegitimizing each other.
Despite the controversy surrounding the composition of the CEC, the election campaign thus far has been conducted in a much calmer and dynamic environment than in past elections. While there are dozens of political parties, the Democrats and the Socialists continue to dominate Albanian politics. Other, smaller parties have limited popular support, and most of them are led by politicians who split off from the Democratic or Socialist party over disagreements with their top leaderships. With the exception of two new forces that are contesting the elections on their own – former President Bamir Topi’s New Democratic Spirit and the Red and Black Alliance –other parties have coalesced with the two major parties’ coalitions. The Democratic Party-led Alliance for Employment, Wellbeing, and Integration, will have some 25 parties in its coalition, including the Republican Party, the Movement for National Development, and the Party for Justice Integration and Unity. In addition to the SMI, the Socialist-led Alliance for a European Albania groups together more than 35 parties, including the Social Democratic Party, the Union for Human Rights, and other parties spanning the country’s political spectrum.
The Democratic Party
The Democrats have been in power since 2005 and, under their leadership, Albania has made significant progress on many fronts. But after eight years in power, the ruling party appears vulnerable and concerned about an erosion of its popularity. Some blame the government for the post-2009 election gridlock and slow progress toward EU integration. In addition, growing economic hardships, inability to decisively address the corruption issue, and increased social discontent make the Democrats susceptible to a public backlash. Berisha hopes to meet the challenge by a resurgent Socialist opposition by touting his government’s economic and social record, and by casting Rama as the main obstacle to Albania’s integration.

The Socialist Party
The Socialists view the 2013 elections as their best chance of returning to power and hope to benefit from a possible anti-incumbent backlash. The Socialists have made very ambitious election pledges, focusing their campaign on accusations of poor governance, mismanagement, corruption, and the Democratic stronghold on institutional power. These elections are also a serious test of Edi Rama’s leadership. Rama had pursued a self-defeating boycott strategy, engaging in an uncompromising battle with the Democrats. Many Socialists blamed Rama personally for the loss of the 2009 election and the 2011 mayoral elections in Tirana. He had made a serious miscalculation by declining Meta’s calls to join forces in 2009 against the Democrats. The two leftist parties combined had won more votes than the Democratic Party. Most analysts believe that political bickering among the Socialists and Rama’s failure to form a pre-election coalition with Meta secured Berisha’s second term. Evidently recognizing that his confrontational approach had backfired and under increased pressure from party rank and file, Rama changed his strategy following his loss of the mayoral elections in 2011. He focused on counteracting the perception as a polarizing figure and improving his relations with the international community. He made concerted efforts to mend fences with internal opponents, and reached out to his former arch rival, Ilir Meta. By creating a coalition with Meta, Rama hopes to increase his chances of unseating the Democrats.

Meta’s coalition with the Democrats was a marriage of convenience. Following his forced resignation as deputy prime minister and foreign minister as a result of corruption charges, his position was severely weakened. But following his acquittal, he gradually muted his criticism of Rama. While he had implied that he was open to an alliance with either the Democrats or the Socialists, he made it clear he would seek to exact the highest price. He views himself as the king-maker and if the Democrats win the largest number of votes, he could renew his coalition with Berisha.

New Political Parties In the last two years, two new forces have appeared on Albania’s political scene: the Red and Black Alliance and the New Democratic Spirit. Both are contesting the election on their own. The Alliance was formed by Kreshnik Spahiu, who had served as deputy Chairman of the Council of Justice under President Topi. The Alliance’s platform incorporates a strong dose of nationalist sloganeering and pledges to fight corruption, but lacks substance on other issues. Its nationalistic rhetoric and calls for the unification of Albania and Kosova have resonated with many Albanians disenchanted with established political parties. But Spahiu’s credibility as a corruption fighter has been undermined by allegations that he had engaged in corruptive practices as deputy chairman of the Council of Justice. Many blame him and Topi for the highly politicized and corrupt justice system. The Alliance has been organized more as a street movement than as a real political party, mobilizing its supporters through protests and actions. Most media, particularly those close to the Socialists, were openly supportive of the Alliance but recently they have adopted a more skeptical stance. Initially, the Alliance displayed an ability to stage massive protests. However, in recent months much-hyped rallies failed to draw a significant turnout, a sign of its declining influence. The Alliance expressed willingness to join the Socialist-led coalition, but Rama rejected what the Socialists termed as the Alliance’s excessive demands. The Alliance suffered a major blow in late April, when leading officials resigned en masse because of a lack of confidence in Spahiu’s leadership.
Following the end of his tenure as president in July 2012, Bamir Topi, who had a falling out with Berisha, formed his own party, the New Democratic Spirit. The former president pledged to introduce a new “spirit” in Albanian politics, free from corruption and political nepotism. Splinter parties in Albania, however, have not had much success and the New Democratic Spirit has not been able to expand its core leadership beyond its composition of disgruntled Democratic Party officials. While pledges for an uncompromising fight against corruption resonate widely, Topi has thus far been unable to mobilize a serious political following or recruit well-known and electable politicians. Nevertheless, the party leaders hope to attract right-wing voters, former political prisoners, and property owners who have yet to be compensated for assets confiscated by the Communist regime.

CONCLUSIONS

Albania is a country at a critical crossroads, torn between a potentially destabilizing political confrontation and the aspiration for national prosperity, democratic consolidation, and European integration. The country cannot afford another contested election that would likely trigger a destabilizing conflict and adversely impact Tirana’s relations with Washington and Brussels. The elections offer Albanian political actors an opportunity to move beyond the usual zero-sum game approach to elections, demonstrate their commitment to democratic consolidation, and re-institutionalize democratic politics. The end of the political deadlock and brinkmanship, which have characterized the last four years, would unleash the great potential that the Albanians have, and pave the way for Albania’s membership in the European Union.
Elections alone, however, even if they are held in full accordance with the highest international standards, are not a salve for Albania’s democratization. The new government that will emerge from these elections will be faced with formidable challenges and can ill afford to be distracted by prolonged post-election disputes. Although conditions have not been conducive for the emergence of a new generation of leaders, Albania has a dynamic, highly educated, young generation that tends to think in a Western, democratic context and is poised to move into influential positions. Ordinary Albanians have shown a deep commitment to EU integration and view democracy as their preferred form of government. Albania has the capacity to reinvigorate democratic reforms, and restore the public’s confidence in the political process. But to re-energize democracy and advance their nation’s democratic aspirations, Albanian political elites must do much more to establish the rule of law, empower non-partisan institutions, reduce corruption, and dispel the widespread perception that politicians are enriching themselves at the expense of average citizens.
The role of the international community will remain critical. The United States and the European Union have been forthright in their support of democracy as well as in their criticism of democratic failings. While domestic political polarization and gridlock have led to “Albania fatigue,” it is important that Washington and Brussels continue to engage Albania, using their significant leverage to foster democratic progress as well as to address democratic transgressions. A stable, democratic, and prosperous Albania, firmly anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community, is in the national interest of the United States.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to appear before you today.

*Democracy in Albania: the Pace of Progress
Monday, May 6, 2013
Capitol Visitor Center, Senate Room 210-212
Prior to 1991, Albania was ruled by one of the communist world’s most repressive regimes and was the only country in Europe refusing to participate in the Helsinki process. In the two decades since, the country made enormous strides to become a democratic state where human rights are respected and to become an active participant in European affairs, including as a member of the NATO Alliance since 2009.
Despite this progress, Albania continues to struggle in building its democratic institutions and practices, including respect for the rule of law. As Albania prepares for parliamentary elections in June, this hearing hopes to assess the degree to which progress has begun to fall short of expectations at home and abroad, and what can be done to accelerate the pace of further reforms related to good governance.
The following witnesses are scheduled to testify:
Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs,
U.S. Department of State
Gilbert Galanxhi, Ambassador of Albania to the United States of America
Elez Biberaj, Director, Eurasia Division, Voice of America
Besa Shahini, Senior Analyst, European Stability Initiative

ELEZ BIBERAJ, PASUES I DENJE I NOLIT DHE KONICES

November 16, 2012 by dgreca

Nga Gjek Gjonlekaj*/

New York, 15 nëntor – Në këtë njëqindvjetor të madh të historisë së kombit, Elez Biberaj e ka vendin të përmendet për meritat në historinë e zhvillimeve të fundshekullit XX, dekadës nga më të rëndësishmet për kombin shqiptar.
Pasi u vendosa nё New York nё fillim tё viteve ’70-ta dёgjova pёr herё tё parё pёr Elez Biberajn. Aty u njoha me Kadri Avdyl Gjonbalaj dhe familjen e tij. Ata flisnin jashtëzakonisht mirё pёr Elezin.Tregonin pёr karakterin e tij tё shkёlqyeshёm dhe sukseset nё shkollё.U bёra kurioz pёr ta njohur kёtё djalë shqiptar.
Nё verёn e vitit 1978, “Vatra” organizoi nё New York njё konferencё shkencore pёr 100-vjetorin e Lidhjes Shqiptare tё Prizrenit. Nё atё akademi morёn pjesё profesor Rexhep Krasniqi, profesor Zef Nekaj, Nermine Vlora, Elez Biberaj e tё tjerё. Pjesmarrёsit i pёrgёzuan ligjёruesit pёr kumtesat e tyre. Por Elez Biberajn e pёrgёzuan edhe mё shumё pёr kumtesёn e tij me titull: “Veprimtaria Ushtarake e Lidhjes Shqiptare tё Prizrenit nё Shqipёrinё Veriore nё vitet 1878-1881”. U gёzuan pёr paraqitjen dinjitoze tё kёtij studenti shqiptar, i cili posa kishte mbaruar studimet post-diplomike nё Universitetin Columbia – magjistёr i filozofisё. Shihej qartё se ky pinjoll i familjes sё Haxhi Zekё Biberit po vazhdon rrugёn e tij tё lavdishme pёr çёshtje kombёtare.
Pas konferencёs bisedova shkurt me zotin Biberaj dhe kёmbyem numrat e telefonave dhe adresat. Ishte shumё modest dhe i pёrzemёrt. Herё pas here shkruante pёr shtypin shqiptar tё Amerikёs. Shkrimet e tij ishin tё veçanta. Nё atё kohё Elez Biberaj bёnte kёrkime nё arkivat e New York-ut, bile njё ditё kishte zbuluar nё Ivo Institut pёr Kёrkime Hebreje njё letёr tё Gjergj Fishtёs, dёrguar ambasadorit amerikan, Herman Bernstien, me rastin e botimit tё Kanunit tё Lekё Dukagjinit. Letra e Gjergj Fishtёs mban datёn 27 maj 1933 dhe, sipas kёrkesёs sё zotit Biberaj, u botua nё gazetёn “Dielli”.
Pavarёsisht se Elez Biberaj ishte shumё i ri nga mosha e nderonin tё gjithё akademikёt dhe dijetarёt shqiptarё e amerikanё. Shumё organizata shqiptaro-amerikane e ftonin pёr fjalime nё konferenca tё ndryshme kombёtare, edhe pse Elez Biberaj nuk bёnte pjesё nё asnjё grupim politik. Fjalimet e tij ishin mё shumё akademike se politike. Nё fund tё viteve të ’70-ta e vizitova nё shtёpi, nё Bronx, New York, ku aso kohe jetonte me familjen. Mё priti mirё dhe mё tregoi nё dhomёn e tij tё vogёl bibliotekёn personale tё pasur dhe elegante. Mё plotёsoi njё lutje pёr punё pranё ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’, duke mё dhёnё disa udhёzime me rёndёsi. Njё vit mё vonё Elez Biberaj filloi punёn pranё ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’. Pak me vonesё, por e pranova, bile nё fillim banova nё shtёpinё e tij, nё Washington. Zoti Biberaj pas njё kohe u pranua nё Agjensinё Amerikane tё Informimit (U.S. Information Agency) si specialist pёr çёshtje sovjetike dhe evro-lindore. Atje punoi deri nё vitin 1986, kur u emёrua drejtor i seksionit shqiptar tё ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’. Tёrё kohёn botonte studime pёr Kosovёn nё revistat dhe gazetat mё prestigjioze amerikane dhe britanike. Elez Biberaj merrte pjesё nё tё gjitha demonstratat dhe aktivitetet pёr Kosovёn, pavarёsisht se ndonjё zyrё amerikan aso kohe nuk e shikonte me sy tё mirё pёr ato pjesёmarrje. Cenzura amerikane ishte shumё e ashpёr ndaj shkrimeve tё tij. Shumё nga ato shkrime tё cenzuruara i kam parё me sy para se janё botuar. Kosova pёr Elez Biberaj ishte qendra e universit, ishte dashuri e dhimbje.
Me 13 maj tё vitit 1981 lajmet ndёrkombёtare njoftuan pёr rёnijen heroike dhe tragjike tё Tahir Mehёs, nё Prekaz tё Kosovёs. Elez Biberaj atё ditё kishte qёlluar spiker dhe ndёrsa lexonte atё lajm tё hidhur kishte pёrjetuar emocione tё papёrshkrueshme pёr rёniien e Mehёs. Ndërkohë, edhe pse ishte larguar nga Shёrbimi Shqiptar i “Zërit…”, çdo ditё bёnte telefonata nё zyrёn tonё dhe pyeste pёr situatёn nё Kosovё. Vazhdimisht sillte shkrime dhe komente tё shtypit tё huaj pёr Kosovёn. Elez Biberaj kishte bёrё disa vjet mёsime nё Gjakovё dhe ruante kujtime tё mira pёr atё qytet, sepse vendlindja e tё parёve tё tij, Shoshani i Tropojёs, ёshtё Malёsi e Gjakovёs, kurse vetë Kishte lindur në Guci.
Menjёherё pas studimeve postdiplomike nё Universitetin Columbia, Elez Biberaj paraqiti kёrkesёn pёr disertacionin e doktoratës. Tema “Marrёdhёniet Shqiptaro-Jugosllave 1945-1948” nuk iu pranua, prandaj pas njё kohe paraqiti tezёn tjetёr tё doktoratës me titull: “Marrёdhёniet Kino-Shqiptare”, që u prit mirё. Nё vitin 1984 mbrojti me sukses nё Universitetin Columbia disertacionin e doktoratës dhe mori Ph.D – doktor i shkencave politike. Njё ditё mё vonё erdhi pёr vizitё nё zyrёn tonё nё Washington dhe editori i shёrbimit tonё, Gaspёr Kiçi, u ngrit nё kёmbё dhe duke buzёqeshur i shtriu dorёn: “Good Morning Dr. Biberaj”! (Mirё mёngjesi Dr.Biberaj!) tё gjithё u ngritёm nё kёmbё dhe e uruam pёr kёtё sukses akademik.
Ndërkohë Dr.Elez Biberaj u emёrua drejtor i Seksionit Shqiptar tё ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’ (nё verёn e vitit 1986). Emёrimi u vonua pёr shkak tё qendrimeve tё tij politike ndaj Kosovёs, sepse ishte çёshtje shumё delikate pёr politikёn e jashtme amerikane. Diplomatёt dhe specialistёt amerikanё tё Ballkanit parashikonin turbullira tё mёdha nё atё rajon dhe Kosova ishte “Thembёr Akili” pёr Jugosllavinё. Elez Biberaj e pranoi kёtё barrё tё rёndё. Pranoi pёrgjegjёsinё mё tё madhe qё mund tё kishte pranuar ndonjё shqiptar nё shekullin e kaluar nё Shtetet e Bashkuara. Ai drejtoi ‘Zёrin e Amerikёs’ nё periudhёn mё kritike nё historinё e popullit shqiptar. Ndryshimet politike nё Shqipёri dhe Lufta nё Kosovё pёr pavarёsi ishin tema tё pёrditshme pёr ‘Zёrin e Amerikёs’. Dëgjuesve do t’u kujtohen reportazhet, intervistat e raportet nga aktorë në frontin e luftës në Kosovë, si dhe nga ata të dramës shqiptare në Shqipëri gjatë dekadës së fundit të shekullit njëzet. Nё atё kohё ‘Zёri’ ishte i vetmi zё lirie pёr botёn shqiptare. Elez Biberaj para se tё largohej nga shёrbimi shqiptar, nё vitin 2004, organizoi transmetimet e pёrditshme televizive tё ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’. Mobilizoi tё gjitha forcat e profesionistёve shqiptarë qё e drejtojnё sot kёtё emision radio-televiziv.
Pёr dy dekada Elez Biberaj e transformoi kёtё shёrbim nё emisionin mё tё sukseshёm tё ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’, prej ku transmetojnё pothuajse nё 50 gjuhё tё huaja. Elez Biberaj bёnte komente tё shkёlqyeshme nё ditёt mё kritike tё çёshtjes shqiptare. Dёgjuesit shqiptarё i prisnin çdo mbrёmje komentet e tij. Kёshtu i kishin pritur dikur komentet e Tajar Zavalanit dhe tё Anton Logorecit nё Radio Londёr. Mund tё thuhet lirisht se Elez Biberaj ishte gazetari, analisti dhe drejtori mё i suksesshёm i ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’ i tё gjitha kohёrave. Elez Biberaj ёshtё ikonё e ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’ (icon of Voice of America).
Ai ka botuar anglisht disa libra pёr çёshtjen shqiptare. Ka publikuar studime me autorё amerikanё nё shumё vepra tё tjera shkencore. Ka botuar artikuj nё Enciklopedinё Britanike, nё Conflict Studies, Problems of Communism,The World Today, East European Quarterly, dhe ka bёrё komente nё tё gjitha kanalet televizive amerikane nё periudhёn mё kritike tё Kosovёs dhe Shqipёrisё. Ka mbajtur ligjёrata nё dhjetёra institute e qendra politike amerikane. Ështe i njohur pёr analizat e tij politike nё Woodrow Wilson Center nё Washington. Ka marrё pjesё nё Amerikё e nё Evropё si gazetar e specialist nё shumicёn e konferencave ndёrkombёtare pёr çёshtjen shqiptare. Tё gjithё gazetarёt dhe editorёt amerikanё e pranojnё se Elez Biberaj e shkruan gjuhёn anglisht shkёlqyeshёm dhe ёshtё editor “par exsellence”, njësoj sikurse edhe në gjuhën shqipe, pavarësisht se gjithë shkollimin e pati në gjuhë të huaj.
Elez Biberaj ka pёrkthyer e shoqёruar dhe sekretarin amerikan tё Shtetit, James Baker nё Shqipёri, nё vizitën historike të vitit 1991. Me kёrkesёn e State Departamentit ka shoqёruar delegacione tё Senatit dhe Kongresit amerikan nё Kosovё e Shqipёri. Ka vizituar zyrtarisht dhe privatisht tё gjitha tokat shqiptare nё Ballkan,duke i dhёnё shpresё popullit shqiptar pёr ditё mё tё mira.
Tani Elez Biberaj ёshtё drejtor i Divizionit Evro-Azi pёr Zёrin e Amerikёs.
Familja Biberaj ёshtё sot njё ndёr familjet mё fisnike dhe mё tё sukseshme shqiptaro-amerikane. Djemtё dhe bijat e tyre kanё mbaruar studimet e larta nё universitetet mё tё njohura tё Amerikёs, nё Columbia, nё Harvard, nё George Mason University, nё American University dhe disa tё tjerё. Ata janё profesionistё dhe specialistё. Djemtё dhe vajzat e familjes Biberaj kanё punuar nё zyrat e senatorёve dhe kongresmenёve amerikane. Zoti Ken Biberaj, djali i Elez Biberaj, ka punuar pёr presidentin Bill Clinton. Kene Biberaj tani ёshtё kandidat pёr njё detyrё politike me rёndёsi nё New York. Ata kanё pasur suksese tё mёdha edhe nё fushёn e biznesit. Pёr sukseset politike dhe ekonomike tё familjes Biberaj ka shkruar shumё herё shtypi mё serioz amerikan sidomos gazeta “The New York Times”. Kjo familje ёshtё vёnё nё dukje pёr tё mirё nё shtypin amerikan mё shumё se asnjё familje tjetёr shqiptare nё Shtetet e Bashkuara. Ata kanё njё perspektivё tё shkёlqyeshme nё shoqёrinё amerikano-shqiptare.
Dr. Elez Biberaj meriton nderimet gjithkombetare. Meriton vend nderi nё shoqёrinё shqiptare. Meriton antarёsimin nё tё gjitha akademitё dhe institutet shqiptare tё shkencave politike e shoqёrore. Elez Biberaj meriton shpёrblimet mё tё larta tё Shqipёrisё, të Kosovёs dhe viseve tё tjera shqiptare për kontributin dhe përkushtim e tij ndaj tyre. Ai, sipas gjykimeve të mia, ёshtё patrioti mё i madh shqiptar nё Shtetet e Bashkuara tash 42 vjet. Shumё shqiptarё, sidomos gazetarё, mё kanё pyetur disa herё kush meriton nderimet mё tё mёdha pas Fan Nolit e Faik Konicёs. Unё çdo herё jam pёrgjegjur: Elez Biberaj.
Drejtori i Pёrgjithshёm i ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’ David Ansor ka bёrё kёtё deklaratё me shkrim atё ditё qё Presidenti i Shqipёrisё, Bamir Topi, nderoi zotin Biberaj nё New York, Ish-gazetari i famshёm i kanalit televiziv amerikan CNN, tani drejtor i ‘Zёrit tё Amerikёs’ David Ansor tha: “Elez Biberaj ёshtё njё bir i dalluar i Shqipёrisё”. Elez Biberaj ёshte shumё optimist dhe entuziast pёr tё ardhmen e popullit shqiptar. Ështё idealist, ashtu siç ishin patriotёt e Rilindjes Kombёtare Shqiptare.
(Autori, Gjekё Gjonlekaj, është ish-gazetar i ‘Zërit të Amerikës’ aktualisht botues dhe biznesmen në New York)