I am very upset this morning! I will tell you why. I am very upset because I am looking through this agenda and I am realizing that there are some amazing people who are here for this conference and there are some amazing sessions planned, and I genuinely wished that I had cleared my schedule …
Read More»
Mirëmëngjes everyone. How are you? I want to say on the first day of school, not all of us can become teachers, but all of us have been students. So as a former student, let me say thank you to all the teachers out there as you begin the first day. One of the students …
Read More»
President Begaj, Prime Minister Rama, Minister Xhacka, former Presidents, former Foreign Ministers, dear friends: One century ago today – a few years after President Woodrow Wilson declared at the Paris Conference that Albania ought to be an independent and sovereign nation – the American Commissioner in Albania, Maxwell Blake, had the honor of conveying to …
Read More»
I have been thinking this year during our celebrations of 100 years of US-Albania relations about all that has happened before all of us showed up on the scene. A lot has happened. We have had our share of trials and tribulations, and also successes. And here today, by coincidence, on this day when we …
Read More»
Good morning, everyone. Congratulations on your accomplishments in the Journalism Lab program. President Biden said recently on World Press Freedom Day “The free press is not the enemy of the people. Quite the opposite, when driven by a quest to illuminate and educate, not inflame, or entertain, the free press is the guardian of truth.” I …
Read More»
Mr. President, thank you very much for your kind remarks on behalf of the Albanian people. Madame Speaker, excellencies, and honored guests, friends – it is my very special privilege to welcome you to this historic gathering to celebrate the 246th Independence Day of the United States, and 100 years of friendship between the U.S. …
Read More»
*Minister Peleshi, Brigadier General Kingji, Brigadier General Schaertl, As we mark 100 years of relations, we are finding a truly historic way to bring our military relationship to new heights. For decades, Albanian and U.S. troops have trained, fought, and lived shoulder to shoulder throughout the world. But today, we mark an important step in …
Read More»
Minister Margariti, Ambassador Hastad, Elena and the Cultural Heritage without Borders team, construction engineers and workers, community members, honored guests, good evening. On the way to Durres earlier this afternoon I was thinking about my first visit to this ancient city shortly upon my arrival in Albania as U.S. Ambassador. I wanted to meet with …
Read More»
Mirëmëngjes. Kryetare e Kuvendit Nikolla, Inspektor i Lartë i Drejtësisë Metani, dhe të ftuar të nderuar nga Shqipëria dhe nga e gjithë Evropa. Është një nder të jem këtu për të folur në këtë aktivitet të rëndësishëm me kaq shumë pjesëmarrës të dalluar. Six years ago, Albania enacted the constitutional and legal amendments that established a …
Read More»
Përshëndetje! It is a great pleasure to be here. I would like to thank the Prime Minister and Minister Milva Ekonomi for organizing this event. I have to guess from the size of the crowd in this hall that this means that the government of Albania is strongly committed to the fight against corruption in …
Read More»
Ministers Kushi and Ibrahimaj, Mayor Veliaj, Chairman Leka, Director Kapedani, Ms. Baxhaku, dear guests. Good evening. One hundred years ago – in the same year that the United States and Albania formally established diplomatic relations – Harry Fultz became the head of the Albanian Vocational School that had been founded the previous year by the …
Read More»
Mirëmëngjes! Mister President, Madame President, Ambassador Richmond, It is wonderful to be here with you today to discuss this very important topic. I think just the presence alone of two heads of state tells you that this is an important issue that brings all of us together. And I must also say John, Ambassador Richmond, …
Read More»
Mirëmëngjes! Great to be here this morning! Let me also say what a special honor and privilege it is for me to be able to begin the celebration of a 100 years of U.S.-Albania relations in the presence of Secretary Pompeo. Secretary Pompeo, now also Doctor Pompeo, was the man who nominated me to the …
Read More»
Eni Vasili: Good evening, welcome, honored viewers to Open, welcome to News 24. She arrived in Tirana as the Ambassador of the United States in January 2020. She is a career diplomat who worked in key spots of foreign policy in Europe, Asia, and the Middle east. Here with me is the Ambassador of the …
Read More»
Thank you Chairwoman Llagami, Minister Manja, other distinguished colleagues. I’m still thinking about the comments that came before mine (those of Justice Minister Manja). I have been in Albania for over two years and I think you know by now that I’m clear to the point of being blunt and a little bit undiplomatic. So, …
Read More»
Voice of America: First of all, I would like to thank you for this opportunity. Ms. Donfried, in the press release announcing your tour in the region, it was explained that in Albania, among other things, you would emphasize the need to fully implement justice reform and combat corruption. What specifically did you ask from …
Read More»
Good morning, everybody! Minister Kushi, Mr. Hroni, Ms. Dervishi, thank you very much for enabling me to be here with you, the students, all of you who are participating in this wonderful program called “Schools as Community Centers.” This is one of our favorite programs, because it is a way to reach out directly to …
Read More»
Good afternoon, everybody! What a brilliant day to be together, among friends and allies. Minister Peleshi, Chief of Defense, General Begaj, General Tabor, General Hou and other distinguished friends and allies – it is a great, great honor to be able to stand before you today, to stand with you today on this historic occasion, …
Read More»
*Minister Peleshi, Deputy Minister Bici, Chief of Defense Major General Begaj, Deputy Chief of Defense Brigadier General Shehu and Adjutant General of the New Jersey National Guard Brigadier General Hou. I cannot think of a better occasion to celebrate women’s military leadership – and leadership in general – on the eve of International Women’s Day. …
Read More»
Thank you, General Secretary Kruja. Dear members of the Interfaith Council and distinguished guests. I am honored to be here with you today as the Albanian Interfaith Council recognizes our shared “Brotherhood in Humanism.” I am especially honored to be here as we launch the 100th year of U.S.-Albania relations this year. I will take …
Read More»
Chairman Spahiu, Deputy Minister Tole, Ambassador Del Monaco, Deputy Director Dervishaj, CVE Coordinator Dervishi, distinguished guests: I am honored to be here today as the Albanian Muslim Community re-initiates its program building resilience in youth and strengthening democracy in Albania. You may have heard me say the United States has three pillars of engagement with …
Read More»
Minister Peleshi, Major General Begaj, men and women in uniform for our 33 partners and ally nations here today, welcome to Tirana. It is great to have you back! You were here just a few months ago, engaged in all sorts of activities around this wonderful country, this great ally of ours, and it is …
Read More»
Speaker Nikolla, Minister Manastirliu, Deputy Mayor Ruseti, Ms. McCluney, Ms. Kozma, Director Godaj, distinguished guests, courageous breast cancer survivors, and friends, it’s wonderful to be with you today! I was able to participate in the march last year in Elbasan and it is great to do it again this year here in Tirana. And I …
Read More»
Good evening. It is wonderful to be here with Ela Ruci from Bechtel, and the AmCham Board to have the opportunity to address the AmCham members as part of the annual General Assembly meeting. It is a historic year to be addressing you today, thirty years – almost to the day – since Albania and …
Read More»
Thank you Minister Gjonaj, Ambassador Soreca, distinguished colleagues, it is great to see all of you! It is a very important moment that we come together. Five years ago, Albania enacted the constitutional and legal amendments which established the framework for comprehensive justice reform. Polling at the time showed that 93% of Albanian citizens supported …
Read More»
Good morning! It’s very nice to see everybody, it’s a great pleasure to be here! And personally, I have to say I am very happy and proud to see these three flags behind me! I used to be the Director of the Office that is responsible for the Eastern-Mediterranean countries, including Greece, and before that, …
Read More»
Përshëndetje! It is such a great pleasure to be here for this event and it is wonderful to see so many familiar faces. But I have to say that the one I am really happy about seeing is my friend, Ambassador Byrnes, Kate. We haven’t seen each other for more than a year, not since …
Read More»
*Dear Minister Gjonaj, Dear Chairman Ibrahimi, Prosecutor Çela, and Chief Kraja Distinguished guests, Thank you for the invitation to join this important round table today. It is good to see leaders of Albania’s prosecution institutions convened, together with the Minister of Justice, to discuss the joint efforts in the fight against crime, including but not …
Read More»
Good evening and welcome, friends. I am delighted to be here to celebrate the 245th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America and the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Albania. This performance of American music by Albanian musicians is a truly wonderful way to …
Read More»
*Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, ministers, honored guests: 245 years ago, the Second Continental Congress, representing the 13 American colonies of the Kingdom, adopted the Declaration of Independence. A lot has changed since then: Instead of 13 colonies huddled along the Atlantic Ocean, we are now 50 states and five territories that span the entire globe, …
Read More»
*Good Morning Ms. Llagami, Mr. Ibrahimi, Mr. Metani, Mr. Cela, Mr. Kraja, Ms. Skendaj, Dear Guest, Thank you for the invitation to join you at this important event today. Justice Reform and its implementation has been, and continues to be, one of the most important developments for Albania’s EU accession and for a more prosperous …
Read More»
Good morning. Thank you all for coming to the Embassy today and for allowing me to celebrate this occasion with you. There is no doubt that this has been a challenging time due to the pandemic, but I am honored and glad that we are able to gather together here today in the culmination of …
Read More»
Good morning, Ambassador del Monaco, Ambassador Ekstedt, Ambassador Soreca, Deputy Minister Kuko, distinguished guests. It is a pleasure to be here. As you know, President Biden and Secretary Blinken have made clear that corruption, human rights abuses, and other destabilizing crimes constitute threats to U.S. national security. They have directed all U.S. Government agencies to …
Read More»
It is a great pleasure to be here and it’s really an honor to for me to be with you. As a temporary resident of Albania, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that all of you have done, every medic, every nurse, everyone who was cleaning the …
Read More»
Honorable Chair and judges of the High Court, distinguished representatives of Albanian justice institutions, partners, dear guests. It is my pleasure to attend this event. I appreciate the invitation and the opportunity. In 2016, the U.S. Government supported the constitutional and legal amendments which established a framework for Albania’s comprehensive justice reform. I am proud …
Read More»
Good Afternoon Ms. Hysi, Mr. Kodra, dear guests. I’m very pleased to be here with you this afternoon for the opportunity to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, which was just one week ago. Over the past week, through various events here in Albania, we have had the …
Read More»
President Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Ministers and Generals, Mr. Basha, men and women in uniform, dear friends, What a beautiful day to showcase our militaries and Exercise Defender Europe 2021, which is the largest U.S.-led military exercise ever seen in the Western Balkans! This is landmark moment for U.S.-Albanian cooperation in defense. It …
Read More»
Good evening, Today, on International Nurses Day, we honor the sacrifices of those who work tirelessly to care for their patients. This year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are especially gratefully to every nurse and healthcare professional. You have been on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic, fighting valiantly …
Read More»
Honorable Chair Ibrahimi, Distinguished representatives of Albanian justice institutions, EU colleagues, It is an honor to be part of the Justice Day commemoration with all of you, here at the Pole of Justice. I am happy to observe that all the institutions borne or reconstituted in implementation of the justice reform are now functioning in …
Read More»
President Meta, Prime Minister Rama, ministers, distinguished guests, flag officers, and most important, the wonderful citizens of Albania. It is an honor to be in your presence and so nice to be home in a nation who treats its guests just like their brothers and sisters and sons and daughters. Let me extend my heartfelt thanks …
Read More»
President Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Generals, Ministers, distinguished guests. What a glorious day we have before us. I thank you for inviting me to speak on this historic day. I want to commend the Albanian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense for organizing today’s extraordinary ceremony and I have to say our soldiers and …
Read More»
*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 …
Read More»
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, …
Read More»
Good Afternoon and thank you, Caroline. And a warm welcome to Mr. Albert Nikolla, Vice-Minister of Health and Social Protection; Mr. Albert Dervishi, Vice-General Director of Albanian Police Authority; Mrs. Alma Tandilli, Chairwoman, National Agency for Child Protection in Albania; distinguished speakers and guests. I am pleased to be with you here today as you …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
Deputy Minister Kuko, Director Dervishi, Mr. Hupin, Mr. Veenkamp, Ms. Luarasi, Dear Guests, Good Morning. Thank you for the invitation to be part of this event today. I am so glad to see several partners gathered here in support of our shared fight against violent extremism, because this is exactly that, a shared effort. Our …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
*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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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, …
Read More»
*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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
*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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
*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 …
Read More»
It’s an honor to be here in Albania and to have an opportunity to meet you. Mr. Prime Minister, you’re quite a leader and I’m so excited to open up this next chapter and take our partnership to the next level. I don’t think there’s any other place I’d rather be than right here, right …
Read More»
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»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
* 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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
*Good afternoon everyone. It is an honor to be here today representing the United States as we jointly show our support for Albania, though I wish it were under happier circumstances. I want to thank President von der Leyen and the European Commission for coordinating this Donors’ Conference. This event has galvanized international support, and …
Read More»
“Small-Scale Liquefied Natural Gas Deployment in Central and Eastern Europe” Workshop Good morning. On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, it’s an honor to be here in Tirana today to discuss the role that LNG can play in diversifying Albania’s energy mix and strengthening Albanian energy security. Before I begin, I’d like to thank Minister …
Read More»
“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. …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
Good morning and thank you for the invitation to be part of this event today. Supporting Albania’s efforts in combatting terrorism and violent extremism is among the key priorities of the U.S. government and the Embassy. No country is immune to the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism, and the Balkan region and Albania …
Read More»
President Meta, Speaker Ruçi, People’s Advocate Ballanca, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Speech is a gift. It is a talent that only humans possess. It allows us to express love and hope. It is the vehicle for us to dream, scheme, and put in motion grand designs. But speech can also give voice to fear, …
Read More»
Good morning, Ambassador Guusje Korthals Altes, Ms. Skendaj, Mr. Dervishi, Mr. Karaj, Dear guests. First of all, I want to congratulate the Albanian Helsinki Committee for its work to implement this important anti-corruption initiative. We all know that corruption is a disease that harms society, the economy, and the daily lives of citizens. The cure …
Read More»
Distinguished participants and guests, It is a pleasure to be here to celebrate Vatra organization’s 20th anniversary this evening, and also to receive this amazing distinction on behalf of the United States Embassy! Thank you so much! And thank you to my incredible team of professionals who have worked, some for 20 years, alongside Vatra! …
Read More»
Honorable Minister Denaj and Deputy Minister Kospiri, honorable guests: I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the achievements of ADRF’s nine-year-long, “Economic Empowerment of People with Disabilities” project – EEPD. The United States Government, through USAID, supported the EEPD project because America is committed to helping Albania strengthen its rule of law and …
Read More»
Your Excellency President Meta, Speaker Ruci, honorable guests: I feel privileged to be here this morning to address you. I am here because both Americans and Albanians share the belief that, regardless of gender, all people are equally articulate, brave, creative, and intelligent, and because both nations share the view that, regardless of gender, all …
Read More»
*Good evening Speaker Ruci, Minister Gjonaj, Minister Shahini, distinguished guests and graduates. I am honored to be with you tonight. On behalf of the United States Government, I congratulate all of today’s graduates. There is an American graduation tradition I’m sure you know very well. In my hand I’m holding a tassel. Tassels like this …
Read More»
Good Morning Deputy Minister Kuko, Chairman Spahiu, religious leaders, distinguished guests. It is my honor to be here with you today. Allow me to begin by expressing my enthusiasm for the inauguration of the AIC’s community building program. Together we launched this project in 2015 to thwart extremist groups and protect Albania’s democracy. Because of …
Read More»
Good morning Minister Lleshaj, Minister Manastirliu, Deputy Minister Voda, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. I am honored to speak to all of you who are devoted to the great cause of ending human trafficking. It goes without saying that human traffickers are clever. They adapt. They try to stay one step ahead of justice. But even …
Read More»
Good morning, Strengthening NGOs is a top priority for the U.S. Embassy in Albania. We know that by empowering you, you will hold government and business accountable. We have already begun to see good result from our NGO empowerment projects. We want to see more. Whether it’s keeping the government accountable, fighting corruption, supporting the key …
Read More»
Dear Prime Minister Rama, Ambassador Shannon, Ambassador Soreca, and Ambassador Zuzul, Mr. Serwer and Professor Dr. Angjeli, it is truly an honor to take part in this conference. I am sitting next to a giant of U.S. diplomacy and it is a big honor for me today to be sitting next to my former Under …
Read More»
Good Morning. I am delighted to see so many people here today who have embraced the spirit of volunteerism, activism, and civic responsibility. I am also glad to see so many organizations represented at the second annual National Advocacy Day. Strengthening Albania’s democracy is one of the U.S. government’s highest priorities in Albania. The U.S. …
Read More»
Good morning Mrs. Gjini, Chairman Granoff, Junior Achievement Albania Director Bala, rectors, and students. It is a pleasure to be here today to launch the National Debating Economics Program, supported by the U.S. Embassy through our Democracy Commission. The Debating Economics program aims to help build an active and informed public by educating students in …
Read More»
* Chairman of the Trustees Mr Granoff, Trustees of the Albanian-American Development Foundation, and Honorable Guests: On behalf of the United States Mission to Albania and the U.S. Government, I am privileged to attend this celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Albanian-American Development Foundation. Happy anniversary! Of course tonight we are applauding the great …
Read More»
Good evening. I am delighted to be here with you tonight on the eve of the International Day of the Girl, which we celebrate on October 11th each year. In 2012, the United Nations established this day to highlight the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment around the world. The theme this year …
Read More»
Minister Manastirliu, Deputy Mayor Ruseti, Ambassador Soreca, Director Godaj, and all of you here this evening. Thank you for the invitation to be part of this event today. I am proud to say that this is the eleventh year in which the U.S. Embassy has supported the Breast Cancer Walk. This effort is a great …
Read More»
Distinguished Deputy Prime Minister Brace, members of cabinet, members of Parliament, dear mayors, dear deputy ministers, members of the donor community, and distinguished guests. Allow me to take a moment to express the United States’ solidarity with the Albanian people in the wake of last weekend’s earthquake. It has been an unsettling past several days, …
Read More»
Good morning. ASP Director Veliu, Director Nano, thank you for inviting me here today to participate in the final Antiterrorism Assistance Training Course of the year. Congratulations to all of today’s graduates! During the past year, you have deepened your knowledge of investigations and, with the assistance of the American trainers and mentors, have used …
Read More»
High Judicial Council Chair Llagami, Director Sadushi, School of Magistrates Faculty, distinguished guests and chancellors, thank you all for being with us today at this important event. Today we are here to recognize another step forward towards implementing judicial reform in Albania: the successful completion of the Summer Court Administration Program*. Reform of Albania’s judiciary …
Read More»
Minister Xhaçka, General Kollçaku, distinguished guests. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I could easily fill my time today listing all the line items of donations and cooperation among our defense establishments. Believe me, the list is long. It includes armored vehicles for your Light Infantry Battalion Group, a Cyber Response …
Read More»
Minister Gjonaj, distinguished guests, It is a pleasure to be here today to mark the 3rd anniversary of the passing of Justice Reform and the inauguration of this building that will house the High Prosecutorial Council, the High Judicial Council, and the School of Magistrates. July 21, 2016 began with expectations of a morning vote …
Read More»
President Meta, Speaker Ruçi, Ministers and Members of the Parliament, Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, guests: It is an honor and a privilege for me, along with all our Embassy colleagues, to be joined this evening by our close friends and partners to celebrate 243 years of American independence and freedom. A warm welcome to …
Read More»
AmCham members, friends, and colleagues: Good afternoon. I’m honored to be here today, thank you for inviting me. I’d like to start by welcoming AmCham’s new president of the Board of Directors, Enio Jaco, and new executive director, Ilir Trimi. Welcome Enio and Ilir; I look forward to working with you. Two hundred and forty-three …
Read More»
Minister Xhacka, General Shehu, Distinguished Guests, First, I want to begin by noting the incredibly strong friendship and bilateral working relationship between our two countries; and I look forward to further strengthening those ties as we continue to cooperate and move forward together on shared security goals. It is an honor to be with you …
Read More»
Good morning and thank you all for being here. You have all had a year full of hard work and learning. My hope for you is that you’ve been able to learn and grow, to deepen your dedication to your important profession, and to publish your first investigative stories. What you do is important work. …
Read More»
It is a pleasure to be here with all of you dedicated journalists from across the region. I would especially like to acknowledge our keynote speakers. They have travelled great distances to share lessons learned from their titanic efforts working to forge a free and fact-based media, which we all know is an essential foundation …
Read More»
Good evening Chairman Spahiu, Baba Mondi, Chairwoman Aliko, Rector Gjana, teachers and students. Thank you for coming to our Iftar — we are so privileged to share it with you. Tonight is part of a rich tradition of celebrating the role of faith in our lives, and a reminder that Ramadan has a long tradition …
Read More»
President Meta, Minister Xhaçka, honorable ambassadors, and distinguished guests, friends and colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you on a topic we all hold dear: security challenges in the Balkans during the Euro-Atlantic transition. I will spend my brief minutes with you this morning discussing two of these security challenges: external threats …
Read More»
Honorable Deputy Speaker Hysi, Deputy Minister Treni, Coordinator Sojati, Mr. Hroni, distinguished guests. It is my honor to be here with you today. Allow me to begin today by congratulating not only IDM for the conclusion of the successful pilot, “Schools as Community Centers,” but also to all those who helped ensure the program’s success. …
Read More»
Good morning. First, I would like to thank Chief Prosecutor Elizabeta Imeraj, Mr. Maasen, Mr. Mandoi, Ms. Jansen, Ms. Mehmeti and all of you. It is a true honor for me to be here with you today. I am very grateful to the Tirana Prosecution Office for organizing today’s event. You have probably heard time …
Read More»
Thank you to the University of Tirana’s Journalism Department for having us today. Today is a very important day around the world and specifically for you, as journalism students. It marks World Press Freedom Day. On this day, we celebrate the fundamental principles that are at the core of democracy and at the core of …
Read More»
Honorable Guests, Coordinator Sojati, distinguished guests, it is my honor to be here with you today. Let me begin by congratulating the Albanian government, in the form of the National Countering Violent Extremism Center led by Agron Sojati. The Albanian government is a regional leader in countering and preventing violent extremism. The U.S. Embassy is …
Read More»
Good Morning Director Veliu, ladies and gentlemen Before I turn to the topic of the conference, I would like to say a few words about Albania’s State Police. I want to recognize all the efforts that the ASP has made over the past year. You have shown professionalism and courage in your duties to protect …
Read More»
Madame Minister, Ambassador Soreca, members of parliament, Ms. Godaj, distinguished guests. Thank you all for the invitation to be part of this event today. Empowering women and girls is among the main priorities of the U.S. Government. And, our U.S. National Security Strategy highlights the fact that investing in women helps nations achieve greater peace …
Read More»
AmCham Chairman Crawford, Board Members, Deputy Minister Haxhi, AmCham Members, Friends, and Colleagues: Good evening. It’s an honor to be here tonight. I’d like to start by bidding farewell to Mark Crawford, the Chamber’s outgoing chairman, and Enida Bezhani, AmCham’s former executive director. On behalf of the United States Embassy, allow me to extend my …
Read More»
Good afternoon. First, I would like to extend my thanks to Rector Gjana for inviting me to speak with you all today. My message today is this: speak the truth. When asked to come today, I was asked to address freedom of the press, the relationship between media and politics and challenges faced by Albanian …
Read More»
(In Albanian) Dear Peace Corps trainees, Peace Corps employees, and host families, Good morning. I would like to start by thanking the host families for welcoming Peace Corps trainees into your homes. Soon, these trainees will take an oath in which they will promise to share American culture with an open heart and open mind, but …
Read More»
Minister Xhacka, General Kollcaku, General Mullai, members of the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF), and distinguished guests. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to be here with you today. It is an honor to partake in this commemorative ceremony. A ceremony that exemplifies the United States Governments commitment to stronger ties with Albania, and is …
Read More»
Minister Lleshaj, General Director Veliu, distinguished members of the Albanian State Police, members of the U.S. Embassy Tirana and friends, (In Albanian) I appreciate this opportunity to mark this significant milestone in the modernization of the Albanian State Police. I am proud to celebrate the continued success of the close partnership between the Albanian State …
Read More»
Deputy Prime Minister, Agency Representatives, Mayors, distinguished guests, Pershendetje! Thank you for the opportunity to be here today. The work you are doing is building the promise for a better and brighter future in Albania, for all Albanians. The United States is proud to contribute to that effort. Together, we are laying the foundation for …
Read More»
Good morning everyone, dear Deputies, dear Ministers, dear distinguished members of the diplomatic corps and other distinguished guests, friends and colleagues. As I begin these remarks, I want to take you back to April 4, 1949, the day the United States formally tied its safety and security to that of Europe for the first time. …
Read More»
Dear Minister Lleshaj, Director of Police Veliu, Ambassador Soreca, distinguished guests and participants; I would like to start today by thanking Minister Lleshi for the invitation to speak today on this very important topic. The war on illicit drugs is not just a campaign – it is a cause for democracy. It is a show …
Read More»
Good morning and thank you to OSHEE CEO, Mr. Adrian Cela. I am honored to be here for this MoU signing and to mark the newest stage of partnership between our two governments. Not long ago, Albania faced a real energy crisis. Power outages, high import prices, and energy losses estimated as high as 45 …
Read More»
Prosecutor General Marku, Minister Gjonaj, Ambassador Soreca, honorable diplomats, Chief prosecutors and prosecutors, Over two years ago this country made a commitment to its people and to its international partners to dramatically improve the justice system. Early in the morning of July 22, 2016, the parliament unanimously passed the necessary constitutional changes and, thus, promised …
Read More»
People’s Advocate Ballanca, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. This past summer, several of my Embassy colleagues attended a ceremony at the site of the former communist labor camp in Tepelena. They gathered there with many others, including several of you here today, to honor the former inmates of that camp. During that ceremony, President Meta …
Read More»
Prosecutor General Marku, students and faculty of the School of Magistrates, In December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 54/134, proclaiming November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This day is the official start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a yearly campaign where we …
Read More»
Minister Gjonaj, colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps, distinguished guests, graduates, It is my honor to be with you today. On behalf of the United States Government, I congratulate all of today’s graduates on your outstanding achievement. I wish you all great success. I hope to be brief, so please allow me to share three messages with …
Read More»
Honorable Mr. Dedja, Mr. Sadushi, Mr. Zaganjori, colleague Ambassadors, Commissioner Jourova, dear magistrates, good morning! Thank you for having me here today. It is an honor to be with you on this special occasion to mark your graduation from the School of Magistrates. [Now I will continue in English.] Honest. Courageous. Patriotic. These are the words the U.S. government has used to describe the …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
MS NAUERT: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the State Department. Thank you for coming in so early this morning for the unveiling of the International Religious Freedom Report . I’d like to first introduce Secretary Pompeo, who will give some brief remarks and an announcement. And then Ambassador Sam Brownback, who is our global ambassador for religious freedom, will …
Read More»
Remarks as prepared for delivery It’s a real pleasure to be here in Croatia. I want to thank Minister Božinović for hosting me. We met in Washington DC in January and I am glad we had the chance to meet again this time in Croatia. Thank you for the invitation to visit your beautiful country. …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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»
SECRETARY TILLERSON: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Well, good morning. And I really, really appreciate this opportunity to swing down to Stanford while I was out on the West Coast and particularly to address this group. And I want to thank Stanford and the Hoover Institution and the international studies group for allowing …
Read More»
I nderuar Kryetar i Kuvendit të Shqipërisë zoti Ruçi, e nderuar nënkryetare e Kuvendit zonja Hysi, të nderuara Deputete, të nderuar Ambasadorë, mirëmëngjes. Unë jam Carson Relitz Rocker nga Ambasada Amerikane dhe është një kënaqësi e madhe që ndodhem këtu mes jush! Ndihem e nderuar që marr pjesë në konstituimin e Aleancës së Grave Deputete. …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
Good morning. It is a pleasure to back in Berat. This is the second of many meetings that we are having with young people in towns across Albania. When I was asked where I might want to speak to young people, my first answer was Berat – which is probably my favorite town in Albania …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
* 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 …
Read More»
SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, good evening, all. I want to begin, first, by extending our condolences to all those who have suffered, continue to suffer, from the devastation from the natural disasters that we are witnessing around the Western Hemisphere. Obviously, this succession of massive hurricanes in the Caribbean are really testing, I think, the will and …
Read More»
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all. Prime Minister Markovic, Prime Minister Zaev, Prime Minister Brnabic, Prime Minister Cerar, Prime Minister Plenkovic, Prime Minister Rama, , President Thaci, Minister Zvizdic, distinguished guests, it is my great honor to join you today to celebrate the progress of the Western Balkans here at this historic Adriatic Charter …
Read More»
Good morning, Secretary General and my fellow ministers, and thank you for the opportunity to speak. Let me be very clear at the outset of my remarks: the U.S. commitment to NATO is strong and this Alliance remains the bedrock for transatlantic security. This Alliance was forged from the ashes of World War II, and …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG: (In progress) took office, and just a few days after your great speech in Munich where you so clearly declared the strong commitment and the unwavering support of the United States to the transatlantic bond. And we welcome that because we see the strong commitment of the United States to the transatlantic …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
On February 2, 2017, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivered remarks to employees in the main lobby of the U.S. Department of State’s Harry S. Truman Building during his first visit to the Department following his confirmation and swearing-in. You can read Secretary Tillerson’s full remarks below and watch them here : Well, good morning, …
Read More»
Deputy Minister Gjebrea, Dr. Nikolla, Mr. D’Silva, members of civil society – especially our friends and partners at Catholic Relief Services and Caritas. The fight against human trafficking is one of the United States’ highest priorities. It is an affront to our core values, it is a crime of heinous proportions, and it violates our …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much! (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much, everybody. Thank you. Everybody, please have a seat. Have a seat. Well, thank you so much. Good afternoon, everybody. I was just told that was going to be the last “Hail to the Chief” on the road, and it got me kind …
Read More»
“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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
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. …
Read More»
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 …
Read More»
Countering Violent Extremism requires creative solutions and cooperative effort around the globe. In this regard, Albania has a very unique story to tell. Albania is rightly renowned for its religious tolerance and its culture of hospitality. Historically Albania has a tradition of protecting vulnerable groups. Albanians have accepted refugees and those fleeing conflict and persecution …
Read More»