Defence Minister speech in plenary session on extension of the emergency state in the district of Tiranë, Durres and Lezhë

Published: Wednesday, 18 December 2019 14:46

Dear Mr. Speaker of Parliament,

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Colleagues,

Being one of the proponents to prolong the natural disaster state I would like to explain to the people, and certainly to my colleagues, why we are demanding this today.
The explanation, certainly would have been given in any case, but today is of particular importance, cause, unfortunately, part of politics and opinion-makers having already forgotten the earthquake reverse the tragedy that happened, the work being done to cope with the consequences, in the purposes of political war, attacking everything and everyone.

Albania was hit by a major disaster, the situation in the affected areas is catastrophic, and the work being done to cope is exceptional. Partner support has also been tremendous. The only thing that is now back at its usual routine is political conflict.

Although, I find disgraceful to build political agendas on the tragedy and on the disaster that affected thousands of families, I personally, am used and even expect the attacks and the slander, but the only surprise to me was the time that peace and dignified behavior lasted. But I can never accept the slander on the work of those thousands and thousands of men, women, youngsters who worked bravely and selflessly to cope with this situation and did not receive a thank you, but also, they were attacked, insulted, and even mocked in the name of political interests.
One hour after the hit CHECK!!! of the 6.3 magnitude, servicemen and women of the AAF, went in Thumanë, Durrës and everywhere it was information about the damage and the need of emergency intervention. When all citizens only thought of staying close to their families, when anxiety and fear had arisen to the highest peak, those men and women left their homes, their families, and went to help people in the affected areas. Does this at least deserve a thank you or not?

38 lives of Albanians who were under the ruins were saved by these men and women, who today are named as incompetent, unprepared, untrained. 38 lives! For this they deserved a thank you at least like the foreign experts who were here in our time of need! Just as they deserved a thank you for the fact that they worked tirelessly, shelter, feed and supply thousands of citizens affected by the earthquake.
The truth is that the 26th November earthquake was a disaster of such magnitude that it would test the resources of every country, however developed and powerful. The geographical extent of the damage, the large number of injuries, the fear and the panic of terrified citizens gathering in the streets make it difficult to deploy intervention teams. These are all elements that make managing a post-earthquake situation so difficult.
What I know today is that all structures reacted with efficiency and promptness that would have been unexpected, even a year ago. As never before, the Armed Forces were there for the citizens in record time. Just 1 hour after the stroke!
There may still be dwellings and buildings today where full damage assessment has not been done.
First, because this is a time-consuming and a skilled job that Albania does not have, and in fact, has never had such capabilities to make verifications straightaway.
Second, because the Law on Civil Protection itself provides that the state of natural disaster goes through several stages that begin with the occurrence of the natural disaster, it follows the stages of search and rescue, consequences verification and the final phase of adjustment of consequences through reconstruction.
Servicemen and women from the AAF, Health Department, Police, deserve gratitude, as deserve gratitude our Kosovo brothers, and all the friends and partners who were here in an extraordinary display of solidarity. And they deserve a public apology from those who today desire to smear them not because they do not know what the truth is but because of their political agenda.
But I have no doubt that are the citizens themselves, the ones, that differentiate between those who work and strive, and those who sit on the top of the fence, giving advices, swearing and cursing.

Our job is to keep up the work, to cope with the situation and the challenge that has fallen upon us. As the search and rescue phase is over, we need an extension of the state of natural disaster, and the legal instruments that enable it, to complete the inspection phase, to design and implement short-term consequences of the adjustment measures to ensure life and health of individuals in the districts of Durrës, Tirana, Lezha.
Since you know, only during the state of natural disaster:

- Operational structures (army, police, firefighters, medical emergencies) are available to KNEC and KNEC leaders

Only during the state of natural disaster
- extraordinary measures may be imposed and implemented to cope with and mitigate the consequences of the disaster, both on central and local public institutions and on private persons, including fines in the event of non-application of these measures.

Only during the state of natural disaster

- formally appeal for assistance to international bodies and other States, requirements specified for assistance needs and periodic situational reports for the European Emergency Coordination Center for the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center̈.

For the above reasons, I invite my colleagues to support this proposal so that we can all continue to do our best for citizens who today do not need political conflict and cursing, but concrete work.