After four days of protests, clashes with the police, tear gas, violence and destruction, tonight's evening in Tirana ended differently. In front of the Prime Minister's Office there was a dialogue between the protesters and the police forces. The young people approached the officers, shook hands, hugged them and offered them water. For the first time after four days of tension, the parties seemed ready to talk instead of clashing.
No one can say for sure who initiated this dialogue, who represented the protesters, and whether any agreement was reached. All the more so since it all happened shortly after the message from the American Embassy, which condemned the violence and called for peaceful protests. Coincidence or not, the atmosphere changed. Although the protesters remaining in front of the Prime Minister's Office were few in number, the evening's confrontation ended without further incidents.
Thus ended the fourth day of the revolt, with an undeclared ceasefire. Edi Rama remains prime minister, the youth continue to demand his removal, and none of the problems that brought them to the streets have been resolved. But tonight, at least, the police and protesters parted peacefully.
Who made this peace possible remains unclear. What matters now is whether it will last. Because tomorrow is another day. And no one knows whether Tirana will wake up to another day of protests or another day of clashes.
