TIRANA - "This year "Le Printemps de la Francophonie 2015" has brought together more than 120 events throughout the country and we have been present in fourteen cities. Fifty partners have been part of it." With these words the French Ambassador to Tirana, Bernard Fitoussi made a wrap-up of all the activities organized across Albania in the frame of the 'Spring of Francophonie' in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News.

"France and Albania are friends and allies of longstanding excellent bilateral relations," said the Ambassador who turning back in time recalled that during the dictatorship in Albania, France was a small window of freedom for many Albanians.

"Albania shares our values, often our language and now our European destiny," said Ambassador Fitoussi in the following interview:

- Mr. Ambassador, dozens of activities took place almost in the entire Albania on the occasion of the "Le Printemps de la Francophonie (Spring of Francophonie). Such activities were organized by the French Embassy in Tirana and the French Alliance with the support of other Francophone Embassies in Albania while the novelty of this year was that the activities expanded, getting out of the capital, to Shkodra, Korca, Fier, Elbasan, Durres, Vlora, but also other small towns such as Permet, Gramsh, Mamurras, Librazhd, Pogradec, even in Tropoja. What can you tell us more on the International Francophone Day and these socio-cultural activities to promote Francophone values, French culture and music as well as to get acquainted with Albania's engagement in the global francophone space?

 - "Le Printemps de la Francophonie 2015" is one of the main cultural activities of the Embassy of France and the French network in Albania. For several years, it has become a meeting place of Albanian cultural life in Tirana and other cities in Albania. It is a way to enhance the network of French teachers and sensibilize rectors, deans, teaching directorates on the importance of French as the language of the future and an opportunity for the new generations. This year "Le Printemps de la Francophonie 2015" has brought together more than 120 events throughout the country and we have been present in fourteen cities. Fifty partners have been part of it.

By warmly thanking all those involved in this endeavor, I will mention all my colleagues from the embassies of Kosovo, Croatia, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Egypt, Serbia, Greece and Romania. I also would like to thank the commitment of national and local institutions in Albania, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, the City Halls, the University Agency of Francophonie and the OIF, the Albanian Olympic Committee, the French Alliances of Albania, the municipal theaters, cinemas, but also colleges and Albanian high schools, the French School of Tirana, the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Journalism. And last but not least, I would like to thank your media colleagues (press, radio and television).

The events covered a wide variety of cultural and artistic fields, French theater played by students who participated in the First Meeting of the amateur French theater that took place on 17 and 18 April in Tirana. But also classical music, with Laurent and Aurélien Korcia, Azan Zielinski and the pianist, Pierre-Yves Plat in three Albanian towns and live on TV Klan in Prime Time. I will also mention the exhibitions, conferences, sports, movies, and even gastronomy (in Tirana, the chef of 2- star Christophe Dufau has prepared a dinner for 160 people). All these activities together made a great success for Albanian Francophonie.

 -All these activities show that French feel at home in Albania. Mr. Ambassador could you give us a general panorama of the bilateral relations between the two countries?

 - France and Albania are friends and allies of longstanding excellent bilateral relations. France is particularly grateful to the Albanian people for their support and expressions of solidarity after the terrible attacks last January during which freedom was attacked. The Albanian people were represented by their Prime Minister and several Ministers in the Republican Walk on January 11, 2015 together with the religious leaders of Albania.

We can say that Albania is a home for the French people. During the dictatorship, France was a small window of freedom for many Albanians. Albania shares our values, often our language and now our European destiny.

 -Your Excellency, you have lately spoken out the stance of your government regarding the very concerning phenomenon of Albanian citizens leaving their country looking for a better life in EU countries, including France, but what would be your message to the Albanian people and to the Albanian political class as well?

 - A large number of Albanians have been leaving their country since three months to go to Germany, Britain, Sweden, Belgium. They speak about 10,000 Albanians who have asked for asylum in countries of the Schengen area between January and March 2015. This is unacceptable either for France or for Albania.

Why? Because for Paris Albania is a democratic nation, recognized as a safe country of origin by our Council of State.  There is no possibility to grant political asylum for economic reasons. The future of Albanians is a European Albania, not in exile, not in poverty, under the threat of human traffickers. Cheating with the right of asylum in France is like being systematically expelled and threatened to be banned from entering the Schengen area for three years. These behaviors are contrary to the agreement of visa liberalization that Albania had in 2010.

 - How do you see France-Albania economic cooperation? What can the two countries do in order to boost the trade exchanges and also increase the presence of investors? Meanwhile, which sectors do you consider of high interest for French investors?

- With our industry implanted in Albania, we are the first fighters to increase economic cooperation between Albania and France. But it is still insufficient, so that the potential of both countries is considerable. We are only the 11th investor in Albania and our trade is minimal.

However, French investments are of high quality: two French banks operate in Albania (Société Générale and Crédit Agricole), Morpho produces ID cards and passports, large groups such as GDF Suez, Schneider, Egis have representative offices and contribute to the development of Albania

KLP Industries operates for over 10 years the mine in Selenice. Mazars has just moved (in January 2015). Do not forget that now we have direct flights between Paris and Tirana several times a week, as well a very dynamic Chamber of Commerce France - Albanie.

I am very confident for the future. Indeed, " l'excellence française"  (French excellence) is recognized in many areas that Albania needs: infrastructure, civil engineering, industrial machinery, energy, food, sanitation, urban planning, land management, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. 

Albanian side can promote its tourism potential, food bio resources, mining products, its business support services, its know-how in outsourcing, etc ... We promote the initiatives for enterprises to meet. I think the visits of several Albanian ministers last November, or that of the Tourism Minister a few months ago to France have contributed to that purpose.

-Albania has already received the EU candidate country status. What would be your comment on the realization of the five key priorities set by the European Commission to Albania? And how do you find the political climate in Albania, especially now that the country is on verge of local elections?

 -The obtained candidate status in June 2014 is a step on a long road opened 25 years ago. Albania, already a European country having the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) or the visa liberalization, is now heading towards membership of the European Union. This membership is based on the fulfillment of several conditions. And to reach the end of this path, we must first demonstrate that Albania can join the EU, not by crossing obstacles, but by making progress.

Just to consider some examples. To join the EU, Albania must meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria, schematically to be a democratic state governed by the rule of law, with a competitive market economy and able to meet the obligations of the membership. In this area, your country has made incredible progress in 25 years, where other countries have taken decades or even centuries. There are still steps to be taken. Another example: You cannot join the EU if there are conflicts with neighbors; now, through regional cooperation and support of international organizations, Tirana has no opponents in the region. It remains only a few different small border issues with Greece, and a patient work, largely started, building trust with Serbia.

With the granting of the candidate status in 2014, the EU has identified five key areas where progress must be made before considering the opening of negotiations. I quote them schematically: reform the public administration; justice reform to ensure its professionalism and political neutrality; the fight against corruption; the fight against organized crime; the strengthening of human rights and property rights.

The five key priorities are not technocratic requirements: they respond to the needs for the Albanians themselves to improve the daily life, to restore confidence among citizens and the Albanian institutions. But these are necessary criteria to improve economic development, as companies and investors need a government and an effective justice, neutral and independent, and secure and equitable stable legal framework.

We always talk about what is wrong. But many of my EU colleagues and I recognize the significant progress: the regional cooperation works well, despite a few snags; the territorial reform and the public administration are going in the right direction.

As regards politics, we are surprised, to put it diplomatically, by the very conflicting character of the rhetoric between the majority and opposition. But the last legislative elections were rather well held. And we should be careful so that the upcoming local elections do not give rise to any drift towards violence or fraud.

However, with regards to matters of justice, corruption and organized crime, it is now essential that substantial changes are being translated into concrete results, not only by the adoption of laws or by the meetings of commissions. But as ambassador, respectful of the independence of the host country, I believe not having to lecture, but giving only friendly encouragement or testimonials on our successes and especially on our mistakes so that they cannot be reproduced.

France is committed to accompany Albania in its reform process. We conduct many missions of technical support for this purpose.

To conclude these key priorities, I will not hide that the way to the opening of negotiations will probably be a little long. But the key is not there: there is no doubt in the accession of Albania. There will be the Albanians, together with the help of their friends including France to go faster or slower along this path.

- What can you say on the recent events in Macedonia? 

- Domestic peace and regional cooperation are sine qua non conditions for economic and social development in Western Balkan countries. Therefore, every state and every political party have a twofold task: to respect democracy and to establish the rule of law.

This means, for instance, that no kind of physical and verbal violence is acceptable. This also means that the Ohrid Agreement must be respected in its entirety.

Interventions from outside and calls for inter-ethnic distinctions serve only to heat the situation, delaying the only worthy cause: the integration of the Western Balkan countries in a peaceful, democratic and fair Europe.

- You have been here in Albania almost one year and I believe you have had the opportunity to visit cities and to meet ordinary Albanian citizens. Which are your impressions on Albania and Albanians?

-Previously, I did not know many things about Albania. Then it was the shock of my arrival: a beautiful country, friendly and intelligent people, a rich, sometimes cruel history, geography of infinite potentials. I have traveled around, but still not enough. Elbasan, Durres, Shkodra, Korca, Berat, Kruja. But I still say that I do not yet know anything about Albania. But each time, I am impressed by the dignity and the hospitality of Albanians: the friends who have already visited me in Tirana keep saying the same impressions.

 I like going to the market, to have a coffee on a terrace, to talk about everything with my Albanian friends. They are frank and generous. Sometimes I find them too critical of their country. I like to tell them, you have twenty-five centuries of history, but only twenty-five years of democracy. Be lenient with yourselves. You are a great people, but perhaps too impatient and demanding with yourself. I know that I have these same defects.