Traiskirchen, September 23. An appearance that turned into a fiasco: Albania’s ambassador to Austria, Fate Velaj, presented his book “Kreuzweg” (Crossroads) at the Traiskirchen refugee center – the very place where he himself was once housed as an asylum seeker. But instead of support from Tirana, he was met with an icy silence.

Neither Prime Minister Edi Rama, Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali, nor Culture Minister Blendi Gonxhja, who had been announced in advance, showed up. They apparently wanted to avoid a joint photo with the “scandal ambassador” at all costs.

New book – new allegations of plagiarism

No sooner had it hit the market than Kreuzweg came under suspicion: critics see it as the same scam as Velaj’s master’s thesis, which has already been completely dismantled by the well-known plagiarism hunter Dr. Weber.

Opposition: “His chair is wobbling”

The opposition led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha assumes that Rama could also fill the ambassadorial post with a new appointee following his ministerial reshuffle. Velaj has “produced too many scandals in too short a time.”

The list of allegations is long:

• allegedly purchased university degree from Kristal University,
• plagiarism of his master’s thesis in Austria,
• protection of his criminally charged sister-in-law at the Vienna embassy,
• receipt of social welfare benefits in Austria despite declaring assets of 1.7 million euros in the Albanian parliament.

Investigation by SPAK?

According to media reports, Albania’s Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) is also investigating whether further steps should be taken.

Velaj’s book presentation was supposed to be a personal statement. Instead, it became a symbol of his damaged credibility – and possibly the beginning of the end of his diplomatic career.

Credits: BKA