Drugs and diplomacy make a sinister mix

12/09/2008

For a drug dealer, what better job than one that comes with diplomatic immunity?

By Balkanblogs for Southeast European Times -- 12/09/08

[Getty Images]

Albania's international image suffered another blow last month when Italian police seized 1kg of cocaine found in a car with diplomatic plates. A driver for the Albanian embassy, 33-year-old Arsen Selmanllari, had parked the car in an illegal spot in Milan, attracting attention from the carabinieri, who soon discovered the drugs. They arrested Selmanllari and a female companion.

Writing at the blog shekulli, Lindita sees the incident as the latest in a string of bad news, including gun trafficking scandals and the catastrophe at the Gerdec munitions plant.

The drug trade has become enmeshed with state institutions, comments Artur. "This case is not the only one discovered," he writes. "For Albanians, it has become a tradition to seek government employment in order to traffic in drugs without hindrance."

"The faces of our embassy and people who work there are the representatives of our state all over the world," Gjergji laments. "The Rome incident is the second one in which persons with diplomatic immunity have been arrested by the Italian authorities, and it is not hard to imagine that our embassy in Italy -- the face of our state in one of the countries with which we have a very good relationship -- is now being watched by Italian justice."

"This negative story will damage the image of Albania in the world, the image of the Albanian state and all ordinary Albanians," agrees Klaudio. "The world will change its opinion about us only when we change ourselves."

But given the current political system, the prospects for such change are dim, argues Antero. "If the people agree that the political parties are financed by illegal funds, which may come from drugs, corruption or contraband profits, how is it possible to change?" he asks. "They should not be called political parties, but gangs."

"Now it is clear why people are interested in working in an embassy," remarks Zamira. "It is important for them to have immunity. This is a major shame for Albania and for our diplomacy. We are examined at the Tirana airport more severely than in France or Britain, and we are not allowed even to take a bottle of water with us. How they can pass cocaine to Italy without being seized?"

Finally, Emigranti asks a practical question. "I agree with the others," she writes. "Illegal activities are now the basis for democracy in Albania. But if we don't have them, what are we going to do for a living?"