In an interview with the News Agency Journal (NAJ), the well-known Albanian analyst, expert of the National Security, Ilir Kulla, talks about the electoral campaign situation, the political and Albanian parties, Ali Ahmeti’s pro-NATO role, while forewarning a large post-electoral coalition

-Macedonia is in electoral campaign. Albanians hope to have a dignified representation in Parliament to protect interests. Do you think that this campaign has presented electoral programs that protect the Albanian factor interest and put an end to the political crisis?

I do not think that these elections will end the political crisis in Macedonia. It’s known that this crisis started from internal party clashes between Macedonian parties for political power. Clearly, on one hand, we have a line-up of the political forces anti-NATO, pro-Russia, and on the other a line-up of pro-US and pro- NATO political forces.

On the other hand, the internal political crisis in Macedonia would not be so easily resolved because of Mrs. Clinton’s defeat, the sponsor of Macedonia’s current opposition, Soros is weakened and the new political class in US will be more prudent in supporting pro-Soros elements, while on the other hand it seems clear that Theodhosi’s crosses Macedonia and the eastern-western line will cross the Macedonia.

At the same time, Macedonia will remain a pipe-lines crossing route where TAP and Gas-Prom, which arrives up to Skopje, clash with each-other, and the pipe-line coming from Persian Gulf, which is the main reason of current wars in Syria-Iraq, and also of the Saudi-Iranian conflict or even the internal fight in Turkey.

-In the general elections on December 11, citizens have a political offer divided in 21 Albanian political parties, 3 of which are newly created, but many of them lack the leadership. Do you think the Albanian votes is being divided into several folds aiming to lose the specific weight?

I still think that Albanian vote will be divided in two blocks, BDI and PDSH, which are the political forces with a more consolidated electorate and leadership. The effort to weaken these two political forces through a third political list is likely to produce a post-electoral coalition of these two political forces, which despite their choices will focus on the relations with Macedonians and the efforts for a political executive establishment. We should accept the fact that Ahmeti and Thaçi can’t be so easily dismissed from the political stage. The first one comes from a political survival in illegality and war, while the second one has managed to survive to the years 1999 and 2001. Only major crisis may wipe them out from the politics. Or if they choose to leave on their own.

-According to the census of 2002 Macedonia counted 509,839 Albanian citizens, which compose 25.17% of the population. Constitutive role of Albanians is determinant for Macedonia’s integration in Northern Atlantic structures. VMRO and LSDM are sending signals of cooperation to the Albanian parties in the electoral campaign, but without saying anything more. How may be this behavior be read?

The current situation is very different as compared to that in 2002. Now all Macedonian political forces seek Albanians’ votes due to the certitude that Albanians are not only important part of state-building process but Macedonia has no future without Albanians. That’s why Gruevski goes today and demands Albanians’ votes, while LSDM candidate in the leadership a highly talented individual as Edmond Ademi, and Zoran Zaev places publicly on his head the Albanian’s fez.

-During a recent interview given to Journal you said that Ali Ahmeti is making efforts to avoid Gruevski’s and Macedonia’s passage in the Russian sphere. Is Ali Ahmeti still the western warranty for a prevention of Russian influence?

I know that Ahmeti is clearly defined for the position of Macedonia with NATO and the west. Will he and BDI be sufficient? I don’t know and this is not much important due to the fact that in this point and the national definition BDI and PDI are together, thus as I mentioned above, does not exclude a post-electoral coalition in a united pro-NATO and Pan-Albanian front.

-Last question: What would you say to an Albanian voter in Macedonia?

I would urge the Albanian voters to come out and vote in the highest number ever for their parties, without expressing an opinion. It is sufficient to vote for the Albanian parties. Time of unification and brotherhood is long-gone, despite Zaevs’ fez.  (Zhurnal.mk)