Moments of tension in the Parliament, Agron Shehaj receives the only copy of the agreement for the 302 million dollar military loan from the USA
An unusual situation was recorded this Monday in the premises of the Parliament, during the start of the review of the direct loan agreement between Albania and the United States of America for external military financing worth 302 million dollars.
At the end of the plenary session, the deputies were not provided with individual copies of the agreement. Instead, the Assembly administration asked the 140 deputies to consult the document in a room with a capacity of only about 15 people. The situation caused reactions, while the leader of the “Mundësia” Party, Agron Shehaj, took the only copy of the document and ran away from the Assembly premises.
During the presentation of the agreement, the head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, described it as a historic agreement and proof of the US's trust in Albania. According to him, the funds will be used exclusively for the modernization of the Armed Forces, for equipment and services according to NATO standards.
Balla announced that Albania will have 48 months to activate the funds and up to 12 years to repay the loan. The agreement also provides for a grace period of up to one year, as well as the possibility of early repayment without penalties. According to him, any use of the funds will be approved by the US Defense Agency, guaranteeing full transparency.
On the other hand, the opposition opposed the procedure followed. The head of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, Gazment Bardhi, stated that the deputies were not informed of the content of the agreement and described the procedure as contrary to the Constitution. However, he expressed that such investments in defense are welcome, considering the government's reaction delayed.
Even the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, declared that the opposition cannot vote on procedures it considers unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Assembly, Niko Peleshi, stressed that every MP should be informed about the content of the agreement and read it in full, after signing a confidentiality statement.
Despite the debates, the Assembly approved with 75 votes in favor the introduction of the agreement into an accelerated procedure. During the vote, there were objections from opposition MPs, who approached the Assembly podium.
The agreement will first be reviewed in a joint meeting of the National Security Committee and the Economy Committee, before being forwarded to the plenary session for final approval. The voting session is scheduled to take place at 15:00.
