*Honorable Members of the High Court, the High Judicial Council, Court Chairs, Court Chancellors, Ranking Members from Albania’s School of Magistrates, partners, and dear friends. Thank you for sharing your time with us today and thank you for this opportunity to address you all. I greatly appreciate the insights you all have shared with us …
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Dear Minister Xhacka, Mr. Rakipi, Dr. Biberaj, and Distinguished guests: I am proud to be here today as the U.S. Ambassador to Albania, celebrating together with our Albanian colleagues, this historic occasion: the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of U.S.-Albanian diplomatic relations. Anniversaries like this are an opportunity to think about how far we’ve come, …
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Good morning Minster Peleshi, General Begaj and distinguished guests. I would like to particularly thank our host, General Kingji, for welcoming me to Zall Herr – the home of the Albanian Land Forces. Today is not just an opportunity to conduct a ceremony, but an opportunity to meet Albania’s new land force commander. General, I …
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Olta, Minister Xhaçka, Secretary General Skapi, Director Dibra, and dear friends. Thank you so much for hosting this event. We mark today a very important moment, the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of ties between the United States and Albania. For 50 years we were kept apart. During those 50 years, though, we maintained our …
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It is an honor to be a part of today’s MOU signing, the culmination of vision and hard work by a number of people around the globe. I want to congratulate ExxonMobil, Excelerate Energy, and Minister Balluku and her entire team bringing to fruition a strategic and fruitful dream that we have been working together …
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I want to begin by thanking the organizers of the Tirana Economic Forum for having me here today. I am delighted to be joined on the panel by Thanos Dokos and my good friends Fabrizio and Peter to discuss regional stability and cooperation in the Balkans. Let’s start with what I believe is our shared core …
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Question: Madam Ambassador, why did you choose Elbasan today? Ambassador Kim: Well first of all it’s a great pleasure to be in Elbasan. I was here a few months ago for a breast cancer awareness event, but I only spent one hour here. As everybody knows, this is an important week. On Monday, parties submitted …
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Good morning! Thank you for inviting me to be part of this special event. I feel honored to be a part of this format that carries such a vital message: women are 50% of humanity, and we have important contributions to make in addressing economic, political, and human security challenges that affect us all. The …
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Director General Veliu, Director Merkaj, thank you for this opportunity to share some thoughts on this important occasion. I have said this before and I’ll say it again: democracy, defense, and business are the United States’ top priorities here. On defense and matters of security, the U.S. Government’s staunch commitment to strengthening law enforcement in …
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Prime Minister Rama, Mayor Veliaj, Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) CEOs, Mr. Mata and Mr. Sarapuli, friends: “History” is a curious thing. We often talk about “the course of history,” as if events have a life and will of their own, and people are carried along in its course. On the other hand, we also talk …
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*Good Morning Mr. Gogo, Ambassador Soreca, Ambassador del Monaco, Ambassador Zingraf, Chair Celibashi, Dear Guests… I am pleased to be part of this conference today, concluding an important initiative, the goal of which is to make Albania’s election processes freer and fairer. Democracy rests on a foundation of transparency and public trust, which is …
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Sokol Balla: Good evening and welcome to Real Story. One year ago, the new U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Ms. Yuri Kim, presented her credentials to the president’s office, which were of course accepted. The year 2020 has certainly been an important year, an important one for Albania but also for the United States itself. On this …
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Thank you very much for inviting me to this event! I would like to say good afternoon to Deputy Speaker Hysi, to Ms. Gjebrea, Ms. Gjermeni, Ms. Kovacevic, Ms. Cepani. It is wonderful to see everyone! Welcome and congratulations to what has to be one of the most amazing groups of women anywhere in the …
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Today, Ambassador Kim and EU Ambassador Soreca met with the members of the Constitutional Court to thank them for answering the call of duty, which has enabled the Court to meet the quorum for functionality. She underlined the requirement for judges to act with independence and integrity to deliver justice, irrespective of which institution had …
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Thank you, Assistant Administrator Bierman, for the insightful reflection on the Transparency Academy, on USAID’s legacy in Albania, and the broader development challenges that lie ahead. USAID can be proud of the significant contribution it has made to Albania’s development over the last 30 years. We may be transitioning the nature of USAID’s presence in …
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Minster Peleshi, General Begaj and distinguished guests. I would like to thank our host, General Sallaku, for welcoming me to support command. I know you have been busy in recent days responding to the flooding. Let me begin by expressing our sympathy for those who are suffering due to the flood, and our thanks to …
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Honorable Minister Gjonaj Distinguished guests It is a great honor to sign this Extradition Treaty between the government of the United States and the government of Albania, which is the latest testament to the ever-growing partnership between our nations. This treaty modernizes and supersedes the one between the United States of America and the Kingdom …
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with VOA Albanian Service VOA: Ambassador Kim, thank you for this interview. Through almost one year of your presence in Albania, the focus of your public statements has been justice reform. Recently, you have spoken often about the Constitutional Court, insisting on the need to make it functional within this month. How realistic is …
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Good Morning, Ambassador del Monaco, Ambassador Soreca, Deputy Minister of Interior Lamallari, distinguished speakers and guests. I am pleased to be with you today as you take on an important aspect of combatting organized crime: asset recovery, and – more specifically – how to make effective use of seized assets to advance rule of law, …
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*Good Morning Ms. Hoxha, Ambassador Soreca, Mr. Kala, Mr. Patacconi, representatives of the civil society organizations. I am happy to be part of this conference today, which highlights the impact of civil society organizations working effectively and with fearless advocacy. This initiative aimed at the sustainable reuse of seized assets from organized crime groups by …
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One of the highlights of being at an Embassy is getting to celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. It’s not just because it’s fun to see everyone get dressed up in their finest, or because the Marine Ball is always the best party in town – it’s because it’s an opportunity to honor …
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*Good Morning Chairman Spahiu, Deputy Minister Kuko, Coordinator Dervishi, religious leaders, distinguished guests. It is my honor to be here with you today. I love constructing communities. My father owned a construction company that built communities in Guam, and I like seeing new communities rise out of nowhere, where people can lead better lives and …
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Thank you all for having me this evening. It is a pleasure to join Minister Denaj, Governor Sejko, Andi Ballta, and the other distinguished guests today in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the American Bank of Investments. Many of you have already heard this before, including at the AmCham General Assembly last week: increasing trade …
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*as prepared for delivery I want to thank Ilir, Enio, Minister Denaj and, indeed, all of the AmCham members who are joining us online today, for the opportunity to participate and share some thoughts with you today. I have to say, this is not how I imagined I would first address the full membership of …
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*as prepared for delivery Thank you Minister Gjonaj. I also want to extend my thanks to Prime Minister Rama, and of course, Ambassador Soreca for gathering today to highlight successes in Albania’s justice sector. I think it is a very positive sign that Albania continues to discuss a topic that is core to the future …
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Mayor Balilaj, Director Mete, Director Diko, distinguished guests and students. I would first like to thank you for the opportunity to take part in this ceremony commemorating the renovations made to this beautiful facility. Of all the important work that the United States Embassy takes part in, the humanitarian assistance projects are the most rewarding …
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Thank you very much! I am very glad that we found a way to do this meeting together even though COVID-19 is preventing us from meeting in person. It is a very challenging time and so your willingness and ability to adapt is more important than ever. This is a difficult time for everyone. There …
Read More» Over the last few weeks, Ambassador Kim has had multiple discussions regarding electoral reform with President Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Democratic Party Chairman Basha, members of the Political Council on Electoral Reform, as well as a range of experts and others. She has emphasized three points: First, the June 5 agreement, which was achieved through …
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Sokol Balla: Albania is a strange country even when it comes to its history. We practically do not have the Declaration of Independence. We’ve lost it. We don’t have the Independence Day flag, either. It’s been stolen. And we do not have the building where independence was declared either because it has been destroyed. There …
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Good Morning Prime Minister Rama, Mayor Veliaj, Ambassador Gendler, and distinguished guests. It is an honor to dedicate this memorial in honor of the people of Albania who risked their lives to protect the Jews of Europe. After Hitler’s rise to power, Albanian families sheltered hundreds of Jewish people from around Europe, saving them from …
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It is a great pleasure to attend today’s event to celebrate how our civil society partners have come together to help strengthen democratic institutions in Albania. You are fulfilling a vital role as government watchdogs by providing oversight and by advocating for policies that will help strengthen institutions. The U.S. Government strongly supports the work …
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Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here today alongside AmCham President Enio Jaco, Minister Eduard Shalsi, Jorida Tabaku, and Matteo Colangeli of the EBRD for the release of AmCham’s 2020 Business Index assessing CEO and executive opinions on the business climate in Albania from AmCham member companies. I am here today because I …
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Good Afternoon, Minister Lleshaj, General Director Veliu, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to participate in this awards ceremony for two of our Embassy colleagues. The United States continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Government of Albania, especially the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State Police. I want to recognize …
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This week, I had a chance to visit Kruja, the fortress of Albania’s hero, Skanderbeg. Facing attack after attack by the most formidable military force in the world at that time, Skanderbeg did not surrender. Instead, he united the country, refused to give up, and in the end prevailed against all odds. Four years ago, …
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Minister Margariti, honored guests, good morning and thank you for joining us. Today, we mark the start of the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Project to restore cultural sites damaged by the November 26th earthquake in Krujë, Durrës, and Prezë. Since its creation in 2001, the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has provided financial …
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A2/CNN: Dear viewers, welcome. This is our interview with U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Ms. Yuri Kim. Madam Ambassador, it’s an honor to have you in the studio and let me welcome you to A2. Ambassador Kim: Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to be here. A2/CNN: It’s a pleasure for me as well. Let’s …
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Ambassador Yuri Kim, thank you for the opportunity of this first interview. I had the pleasure to meet you during a small introductory meeting with members of the Albanian-American community in New York, in February. It feels as if it took place in another world. To what extent has the COVID-19 crisis affected, if not …
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* Minister Xhaçka, General Kollçaku, and Distinguished Guests, First, I would like to thank our host Lieutenant Colonel Dulemata for welcoming me to Farka Air Base, the future home of the Blackhawks. I hope this will be the first of many visits to Albanian military facilities as we continue to expand and deepen our defense …
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Ilva Tare: Kam të ftuar sot ambasadoren e Shteteve të Bashkuara në Tiranë, Yuri Kim. Madam Ambassador, thank you very much for being at Euronews Albania, in what makes me very happy to be your first interview at Euronews Albania, in this country. One month after your arrival to Albania, the country went into quarantine mode because of coronavirus. How was the experience of working under such restrictions? Ambassador Kim: First of …
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Good afternoon, Minister Lleshaj, and thank you for hosting this important signing at the Interior Ministry. We gather this afternoon to mark the implementation of Albania’s Passenger Name Record law, as well as the deepening of U.S.-Albanian law enforcement and counterterrorism cooperation. Terrorism is a threat to everyone, everywhere, and only through close coordination can …
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Faleminderit shumë! It’s a great pleasure to be here today! Thank you Mr. Çela for inviting us all to join you for this event. I appreciated your comments very much! And Luigi, thank you also for your comments! Once again, I find myself in agreement. And I have to say, first of all, Luigi is …
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I met today with PM Edi Rama, President Ilir Meta, and DP Chair Lulzim Basha to discuss recent developments and U.S. expectations. With specific reference to the donors’ conference in Brussels, we believe it reflects the solidarity, support, and desire of the international community to help the Albanian people with reconstruction efforts after the earthquake. …
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“Small-Scale Liquefied Natural Gas Deployment in Central and Eastern Europe” Workshop Honorable Minster Balluku, Assistant Secretary Winberg, honorable guests from Albania and Kosovo, it is a great pleasure for me to be here to launch today’s event discussing the potential of liquefied natural gas for Albania and the region. Last year, in front of the U.S. …
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Minister Lleshaj, Ambassador Soreca, Director Rrumbullaku, Police Director Veliu, graduates; thank you for sharing with me this important milestone in the progress of judicial reform in Albania. I am so pleased to be here today to mark the success of these five dedicated students who applied themselves diligently to complete 400 hours of challenging theoretical …
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President Meta, Speaker Ruci, Esteemed Ministers, Members of Parliament, Distinguished Guests, Thank you all for joining me tonight. I have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome I have received in Albania. I can see that the legend of Albania’s hospitality is simply a statement of fact! Before departing Washington for Tirana, I took the opportunity …
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Good afternoon. This morning, I presented my credentials to President Meta as the new U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Albania. The President and I had a good conversation about the longstanding friendship between our two nations, and we reconfirmed our shared commitment to strengthen relations between our two nations. I am honored that President …
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Sokol Balla: Good evening and welcome to this second edition of Real Story here on Vizion Plus, every Monday and Thursday, at 9 pm. I am Sokol Balla. It’s a new studio, a new season, and we start the program with an invitee who comes here for the first time and, unfortunately, also for the …
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Minister Xhafaj, Director General Veliu, ambassadorial colleagues, Eight months ago, we met to hear Minister Xhafaj declare war on organized crime. At that time, we pledged our resources to support going after the big fish criminals. A lot has happened in eight months, but a lot more remains to be done. First, this government has …
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I am following closely the accusations against Minister Xhafaj and his brother Agron Xhafaj. The facts and evidence, including the veracity and circumstances surrounding the reported audio recording, deserve an independent investigation. But this cannot be a reason to interrupt the work of the police and prosecutors to arrest dangerous organized crime leaders. Now is …
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Deputy Prime Minister Mesi, Mrs. Hoxha, ladies and gentlemen, Two years ago, I said at another Partners Albania conference: Civil society in Albania is strong and dynamic. Civil society is largely led by women and young people with energy, enthusiasm and optimism. And civil society can play an important watchdog role against corruption. When I …
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Deputy Minister Mrs. Rovena Voda, Anti-Trafficking Coordinators from Montenegro and Macedonia, Terre des Hommes colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, Some of the most emotional moments I have experienced in Albania have been during my visits to the amazing NGO trafficking shelters here in Albania. I have met young girls, some just 14-years old, who have already …
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The U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration commend the Albanian State Police, Serious Crimes Prosecutors, and Customs officials for the seizure of 614 kilos of Colombian cocaine yesterday in Durres. This represents the largest single seizure of cocaine or heroin in several years. It is a welcome sign that Albanian law enforcement is …
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Minister Ahmetaj, Minister Nikolla, Amb. Ndisi, Mr. Ilirjani, Director Micko, Ms. Laçi, dear graduates, One of my first jobs was as a baker. It was my first year in university and I woke up every day at five in the morning and learned to bake bread, cookies, pies and cakes. It was a great job …
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Minister Xhaçka, Director Premçi, brave men and women of the Albanian Armed Forces, Good afternoon. I come with a simple message from your American allies — We believe in the heroism of Albanian soldiers, sailors and airmen. We have seen this heroism in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Bosnia, in Mali and in Latvia. We have …
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Rector Gjana, Professor Hajderi, Rector Teliti, religious leaders, professors, dear students, Good morning. I am joining you today to say bravo to you about your work on promoting religious tolerance. So I will begin with some comments about religious tolerance in my life and here in Albania. Then I want to talk about Holocaust Remembrance …
Read More» On January 30, Ambassador Lu met with students from Bedër, Logos, Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Theological Catholic Institute in Shkoder, and the Orthodox Theological Academy in Durres for an open discussion. He congratulated students from different religious communities and universities on their work to advance the Albanian tradition of interfaith dialogue and noted …
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Honorable Deputy Head of the Parliament Hysi, honorable Deputy Prime Minister Mesi, honorable Advocate e Popullit Balanca, diplomatic colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Many years ago when my wife was working on her academic research on domestic violence, she taught yoga at a shelter in Central Asia for women who had been trafficked or were victims …
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U.S. Embassy Tirana celebrated Albania’s Independence Day with a very special show. Embassy staff dressed in traditional folk costumes from all regions of Albania, showcasing not only their beautiful and unique craftsmanship, but also Albania’s culture and art that was passed from generation to generation.
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Minister Gjiknuri, Minister Ahmetaj, colleagues, My colleagues dared me to start today’s workshop with an energy joke. Here goes: Why did the gardener plant a light bulb? He thought he would get a power plant! Albania has been pulling energy from the ground for more than 100 years. Crude oil was first discovered at Patos …
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Minister Xhafaj, Director General Cako, ambassadorial colleagues, In America, we have an expression, if you really believe in something – if you really support it – we have an expression in English “put your money where your mouth is” or in the Albanian language “veprat flasin më shumë se fjalët.” My colleagues from ICITAP police …
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Minister Xhacka, General Kollcaku, General Cahani, brave members of the Albanian Forces, Albanian soldiers and sailors are true heroes. This has never been more clear than this week when Albanian sailors on the navy ship the Oriku saved the lives of 100 Syrian refugees, including 39 children. The Oriku has been serving in a NATO …
Read More» Dear students, dear Youth Council members, good morning! I want to commend the remarkable work you have done to fight corruption in the education system. But first, let me say two words about the current controversy surrounding former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri. All of you are watching history being made in this country. What you …
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Honorable former President Moisiu, Chairman Zaganjori, Minister Gjonaj, Minister Xhafaj, Mr. Sadushi, fellow ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning! Today, I see two groups in this room. The first group is on the stage, they are some foreigners and some, with due respect, some seniors with a lot of experience in the justice system. To …
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* as prepared for delivery Mr. Kola, Mr. Kacorri, Mrs. Reci, dear students, Good morning. This is my first visit to Rrëshen and I love it here. This is also our first of many meetings with young people in towns across Albania. We have a message for you, but we also hope to learn something …
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Dear students and teachers, good morning. Corruption ends in a society when its people finally decide they have had enough and they take action. Often this is led by young people. When I worked in Kyrgyzstan 14 years ago, students in schools and universities faced terrible problems with corruption. Everyone had to pay for grades. …
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Minister Harito, Amb. van de Weerd, Amb. Ndisi, Ms. Leskaj, ladies and gentlemen, I want to tell you the story of a brave young woman who touched my life and the lives of one billion people in India. The media called her Nirbayba (or fearless) because it is illegal in India to publish the name …
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On March 24th, Ambassador Lu hosted a reception to honor U.S. Embassy Tirana’s 2017 nominee for the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award, Ms. Liljana Luani. The Award honors women around the globe who exemplify courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress, often at great personal risk. …
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On March 23, U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu and Chief of U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Johnston joined local authorities to inaugurate the newly renovated Development Center for Persons with Disabilities in Shkoder. This project was made possible by the Humanitarian Assistance (HA) program of the United States Department of Defense. The HA …
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Minister Ekonomi, AmCham President Crawford, AmCham members, dear friends and colleagues, When I arrived two years ago, one of the first events that I participated in was the AmCham General Assembly meeting where we said farewell to Floreta Faber and welcomed Lorenc Gjoni. Times have changed. Ministers have come and gone. Floreta is in Washington …
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Ambassador Vlahutin, Ambassador Borshardt, Ambassador Graf, Mr. Gogo, Ms. Meta, Ms. Prifti, Ladies and Gentlemen, If we, civil society, international partners, and the media, are not eagle-eyed, corrupt politicians, judges, prosecutors and criminal bosses will try to steal this election, judicial reform and everything else in this economy. These people are particularly afraid of domestic …
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U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu was the first guest of the Humanities Forum talk series with students and lecturers at the Faculty of History and Philology today where he discussed the new U.S. Administration and its Foreign Policy. In his remarks, the Ambassador noted that “the White House has defined the President’s foreign policy goal as …
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Honorable Speaker Meta, Ministrja Felaj, Diplomatic colleagues, Dr. Totozani, ladies and gentlemen, Over the past five years, we have fought many battles for human rights alongside the Office of the Advocate of the People. Most of those battles we have lost because governments from the right and the left have not listened to the Advocate …
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Hello everyone, I’ll would like to tell you a secret. If I had not joined the government, I would definitely have been an NGO person. After finishing two years in the Peace Corps and graduate school, I applied to several NGOs to do development work but the only job offer I received was from the …
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The Honorable President Bujar Nishani, ladies and gentlemen, In the three days of this conference you have heard how corruption has been fought in Romania, Croatia and the United States. In each of these cases, it was not fought by foreigners, but instead it was fought by courageous prosecutors, policemen, journalists and judges from those …
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“Eyes to the Future: Breaking the Corruption Barrier” Anti-Corruption Symposium Tirana, Albania The honorable Prime Minister Rama, diplomatic colleagues, judges, prosecutors, policemen, students and professors, There is a famous case of corruption in the United States that was uncovered in 2008. It involved two judges who received bribes totaling more than $2.6 million from …
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Minister Klosi, Dean Duka, Director Leskaj, Director Lurasi, Director Arqimandriti, talented video journalist Rusi, dear students and professors, Domestic violence is not something that happens to other people. It is something that happens all around us. Take a moment now. Look to your right, then to your left. Around the world, at least one in …
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Deputy Minister Gjebrea, Mayor Dr. Leli, Prefect Hoxha, Rector Zisi, Vatra Executive Director Puka, dear students and professors, I have had the opportunity to visit the three NGO shelters in Albania that support victims of trafficking, in Elbasan, in Tirana and here in Vlora. One of my most powerful memories of my time in Albania …
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Honorable President Nishani, members of parliament, young friends, ladies and gentlemen. Let me start this morning by offering our thoughts and our prayers for the victims of this terrible flooding that has been happening in Albania these past days. And, let me continue with a confession. I have several different versions of the speech today. …
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Katerina: Hello to everyone following us live at the US Embassy Tirana Facebook page! I’m Katerina Hatija, the alumni coordinator for the State Department’s YES program, and a student of informatics. Merxhan Daci: Hello everyone! I’m Merxhan Daci, a recent journalism graduate and one of the participants of Embassy’s Investigative Journalism Lab project. Katerina: We …
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Mayor Ademi, Mrs. Godaj, courageous breast cancer survivors, ladies and gentlemen, Shkodra is the perfect place for this Breast Cancer Walk because Shkodranet (female) are some of the bravest people on the planet. My family includes a breast cancer survivor and I know that it takes courage, both from the women and the men in …
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Chief Justice Zaganjori, General Prosecutor Llalla, Director Sadushi, Dear Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been to a lot of boring graduations in my life with long and boring speeches. There was one good one I remember, though. It was 1985 and I was not yet a graduate myself but everyone at my university was …
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Q: I’m Merxhan. I have finished my journalism studies. I am preparing for my diploma. May I start? We wanted to know about your attitude and your opinion about the cannabis situation in Albania and the political debate related to it. Thank you. A: The United States Government has pressed the government of Albania and …
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*Dear friends, I was talking to an Albanian friend the other day. He said he took his family to the beach this summer. He and his young son were relaxing by the sea. My friend finished his Tepelene water with gas and through the empty plastic bottle into the sea. His little boy was so …
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The honorable Deputy Prime Minister Peleshi, Mr. Klosi, General Lleshi, friends from the faith community, diplomatic colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I love that Mr. Peleshi quoted Malala Yousafzai. My daughter who is 11-years-old, this summer read Malala’s autobiography and it filled her with questions, questions about the conflicts and the world we live in. But …
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Ambassador Schütz, Ambassador Griffiths, Professor Vann, Professor Zaneli, ladies and gentlemen, When I served in Kyrgyzstan a decade ago, an organized crime boss was so bold that he set up a tent across from the gate of Parliament and threatened members of Parliament with violence unless they met his demands. In Georgia two decades ago, …
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The honorable Prime Minister Rama, Mr. Xhafaj, Mr. Bylykbashi, dear friends, Whose victory was the vote last Friday? This is the question everyone is asking in Tirana. Was it the victory of the political party leaders? The media? The international community? Or the individual members of parliament? I know who deserves the credit. And it’s …
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Chairman of the Muslim Community Brucaj, General Lleshi, Mr. Gurra, the honorable imams of Albania, I am a believer in God. As people who believe in God, whether we are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, or Buddhists, we have a duty to stand up for justice in our communities. To me, that justice includes: Standing against domestic …
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The passage of justice reform is above all, a victory for the Albanian people. Your commitment has made Albania a more just and democratic country. I congratulate parliament for finding a consensus under incredibly severe pressure. The United States is proud to have supported the drafting and negotiation of this strong reform package and we …
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Ministre Nikolla, Director Labi, hard-working teachers, dear students, Who can tell me what kind of hat this is? It’s a tri-corner hat popular in England and the American Colonies around the time of the U.S. war of independence. Who knows the name of the most popular musical now on Broadway in New York City? I’ll …
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Yesterday after the short meeting between Mr. Rama, Mr. Meta and Mr. Basha, our experts met for 8 hours of intensive negotiations until 2:00 in the morning. But they did not reach a deal. After 18 months of negotiating, why do we never reach a deal?” Why? Because, clearly, some of these politicians do not …
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Dear Albanian friends, I think there is one thing we can agree upon. We are all frustrated and tired with Albania’s political leaders. Today, Mr. Basha said that the opposition had put a valid proposal on the table. I told Mr. Basha that his proposal was unacceptable to the United States and shows that he …
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Minister Cuci, Director Pasha, Ladies and Gentlemen, One of the reasons I care so much about corruption and judicial reform is a story I heard about an Albanian woman and how a corrupt judge robbed her of her children. She married a man who beat her for many years. Earlier he had been convicted for …
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Advokat i Popullit Dr. Totozani, distinguished ambassadors, members of civil society, ladies and gentlemen, Before I talk about the important work of the Advokati i Popullit to defend human rights, I did want to acknowledge the important session being held right now in Ad Hoc Committee on Judicial Reform. Today they will debate and vote …
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Mayor Sejdini, host families, new and old Peace Corps volunteers, our talented Peace Corps staff, ladies and gentlemen, When I say old Peace Corps volunteers, I am reminded just how many years ago it was when I was in your shoes waiting to be sworn in by my ambassador. Being in the Peace Corps is …
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Mr. Xhafaj, Mr. Halimi, Amb. Vlahutin, members of the committee, I have a very simple message: If this reform fails, you, the members of this committee, will dishonor the people who elected you. And you will dishonor your relationship with the United States and the European Union. But, fortunately, we are not going to allow …
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Minister Ekonomi, Executive Director Gjoni, Members of the AmCham Board, ladies and gentlemen, What a difference a year makes. Since we all gathered together in the Sheraton last year, we have seen a lot of change. We have a brand new and fabulous new minister of economy. We have a new and also fabulous minister …
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Minister Harito, Mr. Hroni, ladies and gentlemen, Open Government Partnership is about making government more responsive and transparent by shining a light on corruption, fraud, and inefficiency. But you in this room know that these important efforts are empty without independent police investigators who are not afraid to go after the bad guys. When I …
Read More» Glorjan Jahjaj: Hello Mister Ambassador. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to communicate with you. I had a question regarding the Albanian politics. Since you and the United States are fully aware that our politicians are so very corrupt, why don’t you intervene directly with them? Thank you. Ambassador Donald Lu: Great question. Corruption is …
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Mayor Ademi, Director Jahaj, dear students, ladies and gentlemen, My favorite cousin is my cousin Barry. He was a kid with different abilities and grew up to be a fine adult who is a talented athlete, has a good job, and has a very full life. He achieved all this because of his loving parents …
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Prime Minister Rama, Mr. Hamataj, Mr. Rapushi, ladies and gentlemen, Almost exactly one year ago, the Prime Minister asked Albania’s international partners what we might do together to support the hundreds of victims of last year’s terrible floods. I was not optimistic we could find any funds for this. We searched through our military and …
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Minister Panariti, Minister Klosi, Ministre Nikolla, Ambassadore Stančič, Rector Harizaj, dear colleagues, When I have the opportunity to travel in Albania, I always smile when we meet a flock of sheep on the road. It reminds me that Albania is not Tirana and that much of this beautiful country remains rural and agricultural. I would …
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Mirëmëngjes nxënës! Të mësosh një gjuhë të huaj është vërtet e vështirë. Unë vetë luftoj çdo ditë me shqipen time. Prandaj, sot do flas anglisht që edhe ju të praktikoni anglishten. Madje, kam sjellë edhe vajzën time Aliya dhe djalin tim Kip sot që të festojnë edhe me ju. Nëse nuk e kuptoni atë që …
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Voice of America: Mr. Ambassador, thank you for being with the VOA today. It’s been a year since you arrived in Albania. Can you share with us your experience during this time? Ambassador Lu: Thank you, Armand for the invitation to join you on VOA. What strikes me most about the past year are the unforgettable images …
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(As prepared for delivery) Speaker Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Chairman Basha, ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, My mother is a saint. After raising three kids and working a full-time job, she still had time to volunteer as the head of an election precinct in California. We Californians are big complainers. She had to deal with angry …
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“On behalf of all of us who work at the United States Embassy, we wish our many friends in Albania a very happy New Year. I, personally, would like to thank the Albanian people for the warm friendship and hospitality offered to me and my family during our first year in this beautiful country. Professionally, …
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Zonja Bregu, Zonja Hysi, Zonja Doda, Professore Anastasi, Ladies and Gentlemen, One of the reasons I care so much about judicial reform is a story I heard about an Albanian woman and how a corrupt judge robbed her of her children. She married a man who beat her for many years. Earlier he had been …
Read More» Honorable deputies, experts on judicial reform, ladies and gentlemen, A very happy New Year to everyone! I have a message for the experts, both Albanian and international, both appointed by the majority and opposition. I saw that last summer you did not have a summer vacation because throughout August you were working to finish the …
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On December 15, Ambassador Donald Lu participated in a live webchat with Embassy Facebook fans. The discussion was focused on anti-corruption and Ambassador Lu discussed ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and shared with fans what they can do to make a difference in Albania.
Read More» Hello everyone. This is Don and I’m glad we could have a conversation about corruption. You may not believe this, but I have lots of hope that things are changing with corruption in Albania. People in Albania are fed up and want to see change — from the decriminalization of parliament, to judicial reform, to …
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Chief Justice Zaganjori, Chief Justice Dedja, distinguished judges, Fifteen years ago an American judge from California visited China. During a lunch with judges, a young, Chinese judge asked her American counterpart, “What do you do when a politician tries to tell you how to rule, or someone offers you a bribe?” The American judge told …
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Prime Minister Rama, Minister Cani, Minister Ahmetaj, Governor Sejko, Mr. Katz, Mr. Ballta, ladies and gentlemen, The American Bank of Investments. That has a nice ring to it. As you know, it’s been a long time since there has been American representation in the banking sector – going all the way back to when Intesa …
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Minister Klosi, dear young people, basketball enthusiasts, ladies and gentlemen, I have learned that we are all born with certain abilities and certain limitations. It is up to each of us to make the most of our lives. Many people have reminded me of this throughout my life and I’d like to tell you about …
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Dr. Rakipi, Ambassador Vlahutin, Director Hantke, Professor Fischer, Mr. Biberaj, ladies and gentlemen, In every society there are events for which you ask, “Do you remember where you were when this happened?” As an American, in my lifetime, these have included landing on astronauts on the moon, the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and …
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Minister Tahiri, Director General of Police Cako, Members of the Albanian State Police, Ladies and Gentlemen, In America and in Albania, it is the dream of many, many kids to grow up to be a police officer. Boys and girls see the crisp blue uniform. They see the cars with the flashing lights. They imagine …
Read More» Prosecutor General Llalla, Minister Tahiri, Judge Kuntz, colleagues: I wanted to start this morning by talking about what we know about concerning the attacks in Paris and whether foreign terrorist fighters from Syria, or those inspired by ISIS, may have been involved. ISIS has publically taken responsibility for the attack that has killed 129 people …
Read More» Prosecutor General Llalla, Honorable members of parliament, Director Treshka, experts on judicial reform, Ladies and Gentlemen. Last week I asked who is most afraid of this reform? I said that many government and judicial officials were afraid. The other people who should be afraid are the serious criminals who walk the streets freely every day. …
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Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, I had an eccentric former ambassador once give a full-hour Marine Corps Ball speech about the late Boston Red Sox player Ted Williams (who may or may not have had his head cryogenically frozen). For 59 minutes we had no idea why our ambassador was talking emotionally about this late …
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Chief Justice Zaganjori, Deputy Minister Peci, Ambassador Vlahutin, distinguished experts, Ladies and Gentlemen, Who is most afraid of judicial reform? I know who — corrupt ministers , criminal deputies, incompetent judges, and prosecutors who take your money but never prosecute anyone. These people without face want to continue to fill their pockets with the money …
Read More» The Honorable Prime Minister Rama, Minister Cuci, hard-working mayors, dear colleagues, I would like to talk about money. I would like to talk about how you mayors spend your money and how the government gives you money. First, I call upon every mayor to use the money of the municipality wisely. Bledi Cuci once told …
Read More» Minister Tahiri, Deputy Minister Gjebrea, dear participants, I am first and foremost a father. When I travel around Albania I see faces that remind me of my children. I felt the same way when I visited the shelters for victims of human trafficking in Vlore, Elbasan and Tirana. I was shocked to see girls there …
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Minister Beqaj, Mayor Veliaj, Mrs. Godaj, courageous breast cancer survivors, ladies and gentlemen, Breast cancer has touched our family. We have gone through the trauma of a diagnosis and the joy of a successful treatment. If I asked who amongst us has a close family member or friend touched by this disease, I am sure …
Read More» Honorable Minister Bushati, Minister Gjiknuri, Minister Petkova, Deputy Minister Giro, Director Kopac, Ladies and Gentlemen, The United States is strongly committed to European energy security, including energy security in the Balkan region. But we are not Europeans and we are not from the Balkans. Why should we care? It is in our strategic self-interest to …
Read More» Comandant Haxhiaj, representatives from the Albanian Government, military officers, ladies and gentlemen, The Western Balkans is a incredible place, but it remains a complete mystery to me. Every day I spend in Tirana I realize how little I understand about Albanian society and culture. What I know is that this is very much a region …
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Minister Ahmetaj, President Crawford, Executive Director Gjoni, AmCham members, ladies and gentlemen, Congratulations on your 15th birthday. Being a teenager is hard work. I have one at home and another one just three years away. You have to grapple with dating, learning to drive, acne, peer pressure to drink alcohol, the right hair style, the …
Read More» Honorable Prime Minister Rama, Chairman Granoff, Members of the AAEF Board, Ladies and Gentlemen, In July, the Prime Minister and I spoke to the graduating class of the University of New York Tirana. I told them that I wanted to come back to Tirana in the year 2025 with my children and described the kind …
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Special Advisor Heumann, Executive Director Cani, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to our home. We are delighted that you are able to join us this evening. I had an opportunity to see Judy Heumann speak in March in Washington. I had no idea we had such an active special advisor on international disability rights. Her presentation …
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Chief Justice Zaganjori, Minister Naco, judges, inspectors, ladies and gentlemen, How do Albanian citizens figure out which judges and prosecutors are corrupt and which judges and prosecutors are honorable and doing their jobs well? How do Albanian citizens regain their faith in their court system to deliver justice without a big bag of cash? One …
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President Nishani, Speaker Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Deputy Minister Kospiri, ladies and gentlemen, Americans are more than just cowboy boots and Hollywood movies. We are a nation founded on the simple idea that all people are created equal. Today on this 239th birthday of the United States we celebrate the diversity of the American people. …
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The family of Police Officer Ibrahim Basha, officers of the Albanian State Police, members of the Albanian Special Forces, ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of Albania’s NATO allies that served with then-Special Forces nën tetor Ibrahim Basha in Afghanistan and Iraq, we honor him for his service to his nation. We also honor his service …
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Mr. Prime Minister Rama, Speaker of Parliament Meta, Chief Justice Zaganjori, Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, In your justice system, some people need to be fired for corruption and some people need to be put in jail. In a survey of judges financed by USAID, 25 percent of judges said the system was corrupt and another …
Read More» The Honorable President of the Republic Bujar Nishani, Ms. Arta Dade, Mr. Eduart Selami, Dr. Edith Harxhi, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. On this 24th anniversary of our resumption of diplomatic relations, I wanted to remember for the moment the visit of Secretary of State James Baker to Tirana 24 years ago. Maybe some of you also remember …
Read More» Minister Beqaj, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I hope none of you get seriously sick. Many years ago when I was a Peace Corps volunteer, I had typhoid fever and malaria at the same time. I lost 20 kilos. I felt terrible. Fortunately, I was young and I recovered quickly. I needed a functioning health …
Read More» Minister Kodheli, Former Minister Mediu, Dr. Starova, Dr. Luciolli, Ladies and Gentlemen, Like many of you, I grew up as a boy in a world obsessed with the Cold War. In school, we practiced hiding under our desks in the event of a nuclear attack. In Cub Scouts we wore military-style blue uniforms and learned …
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By Alexander A. Arvizu, U.S. Ambassador to Albania Today, Albania received some good news for its efforts on rule of law and for further integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. In the U.S. State Department’s 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report, released today, Albania improved its performance, moving up to a ‘Tier 2’ ranking and off …
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