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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

(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 …

“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, …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …