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TV21 has unsuccessfully tried to get a comment from Minister of Social Policy, Demographics, and Youth Fatmir Limani, over information on social media according to which he’s recently been rejected for an American visa. However, on Facebook, Limani said the reason for his “obstacle” regarding free movement is him having sacrificed everything for DUI leader Ali Ahmeti.
“The obstacle for the “free movement” stems from the fact that I sacrificed everything to get Ali Ahmeti (together with his children and friends) back to his fatherland, using methods and means prohibited under international law. Let this serve as a reminder that future generations must carefully choose who they trust and what they sacrifice in order not to condemn themselves to eternal slavery. If you want a more detailed explanation, tell Ali Ahmeti to pick a TV station and you will be informed more”, he noted.
Alliance for Albanians, however, reacted, saying the Minister should urgently resign or be dismissed.
“This is a dark stain on the whole cabinet, not only a personal failure on his part”, Ziadin Sela’s party stated.
However, Limani said in response, “What if the “visa” wasn’t rejected, Tosun Pasha? Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”. Previously, SDSM had levelled criticism too.
“Even though he’s claiming he’s building stable relations with the US, PM Hristijan Mickoski is hiding from the public that Minister Limani has received a ban on entering the US. As a result, he was forced to cancel a planned visit, while the Government is silent over the reasons for this dramatic decision. This is opening serious questions about the credibility of the Government’s representatives and policy employed by Mickoski. If he really has support from the American administration, as he often claims, now is the moment for him to prove it through concrete steps. Otherwise, his silence will confirm that controversial persons are tolerated within the Government”, it pointed out.
According to SDSM, the public has a right to know what the reasons for which Limani’s been “declared unwelcome” in the US are and whether that meant he has been involved in a scandal endangering the country’s international reputation. If Mickoski’s really committed to transparency and the partnership with the US, he must dismiss Limani right away, the party added.
Every act of stalling, SDSM believes, will just show the PM prioritises party loyalty over state interests.
“We call on Limani and Mickoski to immediately answer publicly: Why is the Minister banned from entering the US? Will he be dismissed or the Government will continue to protect him? This is not a case that can be hushed up”, it pointed out.
Limani was part of the NLA in 2001 together with Ahmeti. They are also relatives, that is, Ahmeti’s the son of the aunt of Limani’s mother. In 2021, Limani and Ali Ahmeti’s party had a falling out over dissatisfaction by the former, who ran as an independent candidate in the Kicevo mayoral race.
For a short period of time, he was part of the so-called Fire Group of DUI and afterwards, at the start of 2022, officially joined BESA (which is now part of VLEN).
