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DE RUEHTI #0579 2121110
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301110Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7309
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0016
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RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2411
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

UNCLAS TIRANA 000579 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KJUS PHUM AL
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT APPROVES HIGH COURT NOMINEES, ADJOURNS 
FOR AUGUST RECESS 
 
REF: TIRANA 452 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: Parliament ended its session on July 28 on 
a much-needed quiet note, approving all six of President 
Topi's nominees for the High Court, along with Prime Minister 
Berisha's proposed cabinet changes.  Parliament's approval of 
the High Court nominees marked a welcome detente between the 
Prime Minister and President, but came only after a spirited 
round of horse trading between Berisha and Topi.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Parliament capped its summer session on July 28 by 
approving all six of President Topi's nominees for the High 
Court.  The approval came after Prime Minister Berisha 
reportedly instructed Democratic Party (PD) MPs to approve 
the nominees.  Parliamentary approval of the six justices 
capped a months-long struggle between President Topi, Prime 
Minister Berisha and the Parliament over the High Court 
nominees (reftel). 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In return, President Topi reportedly agreed to go 
along with PM Berisha's proposed cabinet changes, as well as 
his candidate for the position of Chief of Defense (CHOD). 
Topi also agreed to appoint the PM's longtime personal lawyer 
to the High Council of Justice. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Parliamentary session didn't end without its 
share of drama, however.  A rumor that Prosecutor General Ina 
Rama was about to submit a request for the arrest of former 
Minister of Defense Mediu reportedly prompted the Parliament 
Bureau to abruptly declare that July 28 would be the last day 
of the current session.  The sudden end to session not only 
headed off any action against Mediu, but also postponed 
parliamentary consideration of the new Electoral Law and a 
host of other contentious issues. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  COMMENT: Parliament's approval of the High Court 
nominees brought a welcome respite to the ongoing feud 
between the President and PM over the High Court.  It also 
marked the beginning of Parliament's August recess, giving 
Albania's political class time to rest up and head to the 
beaches before what promises to be a contentious fall 
session.  In the end, both the President and Prime Minister 
can claim victory in that both sides got some - but not all - 
of what they wanted out of the Parliament. 
WITHERS