The Toys for Tots collection is a popular Christmas charity sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps and implemented in Albania by the U.S. Embassy’s Marine Security Guard Detachment. Last month, U.S. Marines brought some holiday cheer to children with Down Syndrome and Autism in the Kombinat Center. The pictures tell the story better than words ever …

On October 27th, U.S. Embassy Tirana joined Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Program by reading‎ The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, by Julia Sarcone-Roach, to over 270 students from nine different schools in Tirana, Vlora and Fier, all in one day. Read for the Record inspires adults to read with children, spurs policymakers and organizations to …

On July 15, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission David Muniz, Adjutant General of New Jersey National Guard Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff,  Albanian Land Forces Commander Brigadier General Nazmi Cahani, Defense Attaché Office, Commander Samuel Wartell, LTC Johnston, Chief of Office of Defense Cooperation, and Bilateral Affairs Office at the Office of Defense Cooperation, Major …

On June 17th, the K S Flamurtari girls’ volleyball team from Vlora visited the U.S. Embassy. They met with Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts and learned what the Public Diplomacy section does, including outreach, press, and culture and education programs. The girls also met Ambassador Lu and talked to him about their city, their passion …

On June 15, students from “Gjergj Pekmezi” high school in Pogradec visited the Embassy for the Meet America program. They met with the Assistant Public Affairs Officer and a Political Officer and discussed working at the Embassy, educational opportunities, and volunteering. Ambassador Donald Lu spoke about his impressions of living and working in Albania as …

“The Albanians who have studied in the United States have made a big impact here in Albania and in America. When you talk to them today, listen to their advice, learn from their experience,” Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts told more than three hundred high school and university students attending the First Alumni College Fair. …

On May 18th, a group of school students from “Babe Dudë Karbunara” high school in Berat visited the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. Allegra Hernandez, from the Regional Security Office talked to them about her experience as a student in the U.S. and what study opportunities are available to international students. The students met with Ambassador …

On May 17th, a diverse group of primary and high school students from ten different schools in Elbasan visited the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. The Education Regional Directorate representatives accompanied the students to the embassy and made sure that every school was included in this program. Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts, talked to them about …

On May 13th Ambassador Lu visited the American Corner Vlora where he met with the Girls Volleyball team “Flamurtari”. The Ambassador was welcomed by the Director of the Cultural Center Mr. Dhimitraq Furxhi and the Library Director Mr. Clirim Hoxha. The coaches of the volleyball team and the girls shared their ideas and opinions about …

To mark the World Oceans Day, Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts hosted a screening of the documentary film “Chasing Ice,” which shows the impact of global warming on glaciers, our oceans, and the planet. Following the screening, the 25 students in attendance held a lively discussion and a Q&A session with the film’s director, Mr. …

  The regional officer for the American Corners, Stacia Clifton, visited Albania in mid-May. Ms. Clifton visited all three Corners in Tirana, Vlora and Kukes, where she met with groups of high school students and spoke to them about the role of women at home and at work. Students and members of the Corners exchanged …

On May 6, a group of students from “3 dhjetori” school in Shkodër visited U.S. Embassy in Tirana.  They met with Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Ryan Roberts, who complimented them for the beautiful crafts they had created. The students shared their thoughts about sports, folk music, poetry and drawing.  They sang a few songs and …

Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts visited the Wilson School in Tirana in early May.  The school is focused on English education, and places an emphasis on Albanian-American relationships. This year, the students focused on the First Lady Michelle Obama “Let’s Move” initiative and planted a vegetable garden where students grow veggies and herbs.  After a …

On April 27th, the Innovative and Enterprise club of Epoka University in Tirana visited the U.S. embassy. They were first given a tour of the embassy compound, including the Rose Garden and the memorial dedicated to the first Albanian staff members of the embassy: Kole Kuqali and Loni Adami. Ambassador Donald Lu met with the …

Today, more than 60 students from various high schools of Tirana volunteered to clean up the area around the Dajti mountain park to celebrate Earth Day. As part of the Embassy-funded project, “I clean, you clean, Albania rolls in the green!”, YES Alumni, Fulbright and Peace Corps Volunteers in cooperation with the Educational Directorate and …

On April 20th, a group of students from “Ali Demi” elementary school in Tirana visited the Embassy. The students met with the Public Affairs Officer Mr. Ryan Roberts who talked to them about his experience as a student when he was their age and how much he enjoys working in Albania. Ambassador Donald Lu met …

Shumë urime më shumë se 140 nxënësve të shkollave të mesme nga Berati që dolën vullnetarë për të pastruar zonën rreth kalasë më 8 Prill 2016! Si pjesë e projektit të financuar nga Ambasada Amerikane, “Unë dhe ti le të pastrojmë, Shqipërinë ta gjelbërojmë”, YES Alumni Albania, Fulbright dhe vullnetarë të Korpusit të Paqes në …

On April 6th, a group of students from Alen School in Fier visited the Embassy. The students met with the Public Affairs Officer Mr. Ryan Roberts who talked to them about the U.S. Embassy in general and the specific programs of the Public Affairs Office including the education system in the United States. Ambassador Donald …

Kudos to the more than 100 high school students from Elbasan who volunteered to clean up Kraste on March 12!  As part of the Embassy-funded project, “I clean, you clean, Albania rolls in the green!”, American Councils and YES Alumni will visit seven cities in Albania to organize clean-ups and improve their communities. Want to get involved? …

On March 9th, a group of students from Ismail Qemali university in Vlora visited the Embassy. During their visit they met with Ms. Rayna Farnsworth from the Embassy’s Consular Section, who discussed the regulations relating student visas and how to prepare for the visa interview. Ambassador Donald Lu met with the students and talked to …

On February 26th, a group of students from Numani high school visited the Embassy for the Meet America program. They learned about various outreach programs and met with Allegra Hernandez from the Regional Security Office and Ambassador Donald Lu. The students also heard about opportunities for study in the United States and discussed the recent …

On February 17th, a group of high school students from Pogradec visited the Embassy for the Meet America program. They met with the Assistant Public Affairs Officer Meghan McGill and Ambassador Donald Lu. The students learned about the U.S. priorities in Albania and shared some of their current projects, such as the book they wrote …

On February 14, 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Tirana, Albania, where he met with senior government leaders to discuss Albania’s further Euro-Atlantic integration and strong bilateral cooperation with the United States. “The people of this country know full well and want to live in a place that where the rule of law means …

On February 5th, a group of high school students from Rreshen visited the Embassy to meet with the Assistant Public Affairs Officer and Ambassador Lu. They spoke to the Ambassador about their current projects to empower women and girls. These include the “Let Girls Learn” and “He for She” initiatives, which have been enthusiastically embraced …

On Tuesday Regional Educational Advising Coordinator Cheryl Francisconi visited the American Corner Vlora . She and two EducationUSA advisors met with a group of high school students from Ali Demi high school and gave a presentation on education opportunities in the United States, scholarships, and how to find the right school. Interested in learning more about studying in …

Director of the Global Health Communication Center of the Indiana University School orepresentatives f Liberal Arts and Professor of Communication Studies John Sprowl visited Albania in February. Professor Sprowl met with of Public Health institutions and the Ministry of Health as well as journalism and communication students from several universities in Albania. He discussed the importance …

On January 11, a group of students and their professor from Hastings College in Nebraska visited the Embassy. As part of their trip through the Balkans, they were in Albania to learn about its unique culture and history. The students met with Public Affairs Office Ryan Roberts and learned about public diplomacy in Albania. Ambassador …

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the U.S. Department of State are pleased to announce the launch of the 2016 GIST (Global Innovation through Science and Technology) Technology Idea (Tech-I) Competition. Tech-I is part of the GIST Initiative and an annual global pitch competition which seeks to identify and select, train, …

On December 14th, a group of high school students from Liceu Jordan Misja in Tirana visited the Embassy. The students met with several officers who are also musicians and talked about educational and professional prospects in that field. They also met Deputy Chief of Mission David Muniz and discussed the U.S. Mission in Albania, Foreign …

On December 12th, the Outdoor Ambassadors Club from Pogradec visited the Embassy for the Meet America program. They met with APAO Meghan McGill, who discussed the many educational opportunities and exchange programs that the Embassy offers for students of their age.  The Club members also spoke to the Embassy’s Vice Consul about visas.  Ambassador Lu …

In the framework of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a group of students from the Institute for Students with Sight Impairment visited the Embassy.  They were accompanied by their teachers and a group of YES Alumni who volunteer at the Institute.  The students discussed their dreams with Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts and met …

On December 4th, a group of high school students from Vlora came to Tirana to visit the Embassy.  The students met with several officers and learned about educational opportunities, exchange programs, and security at the embassy.  They also met Ambassador Lu and discussed the U.S. Mission in Albania.  Check out the photos on our Facebook …

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana participated in the annual National Book Fair with the theme “We the People – The Americans Who Changed the Course of History”. The Embassy pavilion showcased reading material, discussions, and information about studying in the United States.  Each day, participants of all ages learned about citizen activists who made a …

The U.S. Embassy’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program recently hosted an “Advanced Small Boat Operations” course taught by U.S. Coast Guard instructors at the Delta Force facility in Vlore. 15 Albanian Border Police and Coast Guard officers were trained to develop and implement a preventive maintenance program for vessels. They also learned …

Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons Randy Berry visited Albania October 30-November 2. SE Berry emphasized that LGBTI rights are not just an Albanian or American issue, but a global issue. He met with government officials, activists, and attended the “LGBT Auditorium”, hosted by the Ombudsman. During his visit, SE Berry praised …

According to estimates, over 4,000 domestic violence cases were reported in Albania in 2014 and about 3,000 such cases from January-September this year. What are you doing to improve the future for Albanian women? “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” was the final message from Scott Jenkins, a retired police …

On October 27, Ambassador Lu joined a huge turnout of local participants and members of the Embassy community in the fifth annual Albanian “Breast Cancer Awareness Walk”, organized by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Albania. The event was supported by the U.S. Embassy, the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Public Health, the …

On October 27th, Ambassador Lu visited the city of Kukes. He met with Mayor Bashkim Shehu and visited the American Corner. At the Corner, he met with students and learned about its fantastic programs, including the Outdoor Ambassadors Club, the Art Club, the Book Club, and the Kids Club. Ambassador Lu answered questions about his …

Students and teachers from the elementary school of Paftal in Berat visited the U.S. Embassy Tirana and met with Ambassador Donald Lu as part of the Meet America program. Ambassador Lu had a lively discussion about the history of their village. The students learned about the Embassy’s diverse outreach programs and the role of the …

On October 7th, a group of Planet Center kids visited the American Corner in Tirana to be part of the Reading Hour. The Director of the National Library Ms. Persida Asllani and Assistant Public Affairs Officer Meghan McGill welcomed the kids to the American Corner. Meghan read books from the Corner’s Scholastic Collection, including “Ruby …

Judy Heumann, Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. State Department visited Tirana October 4-6.  SA Heumann attended a regional conference on disability rights organized by Ndihmoni Jeten from Albania and HandiKos from Kosovo.  She also met with business leaders, NGOs, and government officials, including Prime Minister Rama.   U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu …

From 27-30 September, the Public Affairs Section invited former astronaut Marsha Ivins to share her experience with the Albanian audience.  Ms. Ivins, a veteran of five Space Shuttle missions—in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, and 2001—has spent a total of 55 days in orbit, on missions devoted to such diverse tasks as deploying satellites, conducting scientific …

A group of members from the American Corner Vlora and students of the International School in Vlora visited the USS Porter Ship. Accompanied by the Public Affairs Officer Ryan Roberts the students took a boat to the ship and then had a special tour of the USS Porter. The ship crew and the sailors talked …

Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, visited Tirana today and met with President Nishani, Prime Minister Rama, Foreign Minister Bushati, and Democratic Party Chair Basha. They discussed a broad range of bilateral issues that form part of the U.S-Albania Strategic Partnership, including security, defense, and energy issues.  In addition, they …

Ambassador Donald Lu attends the Youth Political Academy in Korce with the participation of members of youth forums of the political parties, and local youth activists. The event is one in a series of regional political academies organized by the Albanian Institute for International Studies as part of their Embassy Democracy Commission funded project, which …

On June 7-8, the U.S. Embassy welcomed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Yee, who visited Tirana as part of a regional tour.  Mr. Yee met with Prime Minister Rama, Speaker of Parliament Meta, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bushati, and Democratic Party Chair Basha.  In his meetings, Mr. Yee reiterated …

On May 27, Ambassador Lu together with Minister of Interior Tahiri spoke at the annual security conference “Religious Radicalism and Extremism as a Security Threat: The Case of Albania and the Western Balkans” organized by the Albanian Institute for International Studies with the support of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division. In his remarks Ambassador Lu …

Sponsored by the US Embassy, Ms. Gail Milissa Grant writer, public speaker and former US diplomat visited Tirana for a two day program in honor of Black History Month. During her visit, Milissa met high school students at Ismail Qemali School, as well as students of Tirana University and European University of Tirana and spoke …

On January 27th a group of “Andon Zako Çajupi” high school in Tirana visited the U.S. Embassy.  This group of students is also one of the teams in the upcoming Model UN conference.  Accompanied by their team leaders Peace Corps Professor Marty Feess and English Language teacher Albana Koci, the students visited the Information Resource …

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana was pleased to join EDS Foundation in promoting the “Hour of Code” initiative and give the opportunity to Albanian students to learn computer science. Michael McCord, the Information Management Specialist from the Embassy’s Information Programs Office visited Fan Noli Middle School in Tirana to teach coding to students. Mr. McCord …

On January 22nd, Ambassador Donald Lu met with Prime Minister Edi Rama. During their meeting they affirmed the long, historic friendship between the United States and Albania, and recognized our shared values. During the meeting, the two discussed a range of critical issues where our countries work side-by-side to advance peace and prosperity throughout the …

Ambassador Donald Lu met with Interior Minister of Interior Saimir Tahiri on January 20. During the meeting, the Ambassador and Minister Tahiri appreciated the longstanding, close ties between the United States and Albania. One of the United States’ key priorities is to support reforms and policies that will enhance Albania’s integration into European and Euro-Atlantic …

Ambassador Lu met with Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli on January 16. During the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed the appreciation of the United States for Albania’s support as a NATO Ally, its important contributions to our common mission in Afghanistan, and its international leadership in countering ISIL and terrorism. During their meeting they affirmed the long, …

In order to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, the Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy worked with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth and the Partners Albania organization to develop a project on youth entrepreneurship. Made possible through a $90,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State, the project consists of two main components: …

On January 14, Ambassador Donald Lu had his first meeting with Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati. Both agreed that the United States and Albania have a strong and enduring friendship and they would like to see our relationship grow even stronger. During the meeting, the two discussed a range of critical issues where our countries work …

On January 14, Ambassador Donald Lu met with Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta. During their meeting they affirmed the long, historic friendship between the United States and Albania, and possibilities for deepening relations. The Ambassador conveyed the appreciation of the United States for Albania’s support as a NATO Ally, important contributions to our common mission …