” We had little time to sightsee during this trip because of the number of political and diplomatic meetings from morning till evening. Overall, the impression was of a country friendly to the United States, Israel, and the Jewish people, and eager to be anchored in the European Union,” said CEO of the American Jewish Committee, David Harris
By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
“Albania was the only Nazi-occupied country with more Jews at the end of the war than the beginning. What an amazing tribute to the humanity of the Albanian people that, unlike in so many other countries, refused to cooperate with the Nazis in identifying and handing over the Jews,” has said Mr. David Harris, the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), one of the oldest Jewish advocacy organizations in the United States.
Mr. Harris and a 15-person delegation of AJC led by him paid a three- day visit to Albania during which meetings were held with Albanian President Ilir Meta, Prime Minister Edi Rama, and Speaker of the Parliament Gramoz Ruci, among other leaders. At the end of the visit on July 12, 2019, the AJC’s CEO made a wrap up of the results of the visit in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News and the focus were U.S. -Albania, Albania-Israel, and Albania-EU relations, along with a range of political, economic, and regional challenges facing Albania.
AJC has developed strong ties with Albania since its transition to democracy in 1990, and, led by AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich, has paid regular working visits to Tirana. In 2016, President Ilir Meta, then Speaker of the Parliament, addressed the AJC Global Forum in Washington, D.C.
CEO David Harris, who wrote his master’s degree thesis on Albania during the Cold War, has served as the Executive Director of the AJC since 1990. He is a leading Jewish advocate who meets with world leaders to advance Israel’s diplomatic standing and promote international human rights and inter-religious and inter-ethnic understanding. He was central to the emigration of over one million Jews from the former Soviet Union.
Mr. Harris expressed the conviction that Albanian-Israeli relations have a bright future. “There are several striking commonalities between the two countries. Both are small and proud nations, with ancient histories, challenging neighborhoods, and dynamic populations. There’s no doubt that, from its point of view, Israel has much to offer in such fields as water management, agriculture, innovation and entrepreneurship, and security,” he said.
Further on Mr. Harris revealed that AJC had offered to share its own 113-year experience on Diaspora related issues as an advocacy organization with the Albanian friends. “Indeed, it was a topic that we raised in almost every meeting here in Tirana, and it wasn’t for the first time, either. Like Jews, Albanians can be found in many countries, including the U.S. Perhaps there ought to be an American Albanian Committee, making the case in a nonpartisan fashion to the American people why a strong link with Albania serves America’s interests. Also, we have dealt with “homeland-diaspora” issues for decades, and would be happy to share our experiences and lessons learned,” said CEO Harris.
Regarding prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Mr. Harris expressed the hope for a breakthrough that could lead to an enduring accord and a new era of coexistence and cooperation between them. “But, tragically, the Palestinians have said “no” to one proposal after another since the original two-state was recommended by the UN in 1947. We won’t give up our efforts, however, because the cause of peace is too precious to abandon.”
He also touched upon the resurgence of antisemitism in Europe during the past two decades saying that they are deeply concerned. “Let’s remember that the European Union, above all, has prevented war among its members, strengthened democratic values, and championed pluralism. Heaven forbid that Europe should ever return to its past of endless wars, bloodshed, denial of human rights, religious clashes, or disputed borders.”
Asked on some worrying developments in the Western Balkans Mr. Harris made the following comment: “After Slobodan Milosevic unleashed his ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians, as Jews, we felt we could not sit idly by. Not only did we urge a vigorous response by the US and NATO, but we also wanted to assist the victims. We traveled to the refugee camps in what is today North Macedonia to express our solidarity. We met hundreds of refugees. But when we left, we asked ourselves if this was really enough. We knew it wasn’t. So we had an idea. Some of the refugee camps were run by the German army. We decided to travel to Germany and propose that AJC and the Bundeswehr partner to provide additional help to the refugees, including tents, blankets, and medicine. The idea was readily accepted, and it happened. Besides the material support, we wanted to send a message to the Balkans and the world. If Germans in uniform and the American Jewish Committee could undertake humanitarian projects together after the Holocaust, then anything was possible if only people dared to dream – and to act on their dreams.”
“Albania is a special country, well worth visiting and exploring. Now if only you can solve the current political gridlock and underlying issues, the sky is the limit!” said CEO of American Jewish Committee David Harris in the interview which follows:
Albania Daily News: Mr. Harris, you paid a three-day visit to Albania heading a delegation of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Could you please share with the readers of Albanian Daily News a wrap-up of your activities in this Balkan country?
AJC’s CEO David Harris: We had a wonderful visit. For those in our group who were visiting Albania for the first time, I am quite certain they will return, and not just to Tirana but other parts of the country as well. We had little time to sightsee during this trip because of the number of political and diplomatic meetings from morning till evening. Overall, the impression was of a country friendly to the United States, Israel, and the Jewish people, and eager to be anchored in the European Union.
– Albanian political forces but even the broad public opinion are unanimous for the upgrading of the relations with Israel and its people. Which are some of the fields that more can be done for fostering the bilateral ties in the mutual interest?
– I am convinced that Albanian-Israeli relations have a bright future. There are several striking commonalities between the two countries. Both are small and proud nations, with ancient histories, challenging neighborhoods, and dynamic populations. There’s no doubt that, from its point of view, Israel has much to offer in such fields as water management, agriculture, innovation and entrepreneurship, and security.
– Sir, you have led AJC since 1990, a year that coincides with the start of the democratic changes in Albania against the backdrop of what was happening in all the former communist countries of Eastern Europe. Have you followed those developments and what can you say of Albania of 2019?
– As a matter of fact, I have followed developments very closely. Indeed, I actually wrote my graduate thesis in 1972 on Albania’s foreign policy during the Cold War. More generally, I come from a staunchly anti-communist family. My mother was born in Moscow and, with her parents and brother, was fortunate to flee during the Stalinist era. I devoted much of my own life to opposing communism and assisting refugees, many of them Jewish, leaving the Soviet bloc. In the process, I was detained twice by Soviet authorities. The years 1989-91 were, therefore, especially exhilarating. But I also understood that the transition to Western-style democracy wouldn’t be easy, especially for Albania, which was largely isolated and especially pulverized by decades of harsh repression and impoverishment.
– As a follow up, which are your impressions of Albanians as a people who protected the Israelis in their country saving them from the brutal hunt by the Nazis during the Second World War?
– This is something we Jews must never forget. Albania was the only Nazi-occupied country with more Jews at the end of the war than the beginning. What an amazing tribute to the humanity of the Albanian people that, unlike in so many other countries, refused to cooperate with the Nazis in identifying and handing over the Jews. By the way, I believe Albania should devote far more attention to telling the story to the world, both for its historical value and also as a contemporary case study in how to combat antisemitism and other forms of group hatred. For example, of the millions of tourists who visit Albania annually, how many learn anything about this amazing story? Shouldn’t there be a pavilion in the center of Tirana that explains what happened in a way that would interest and engage visitors and Albanians alike?
– AJC is well-known of its role to build coalitions with religious leaders and their communities worldwide. Albania is praised internationally as an example of the interreligious harmony. What experience can be shared between AJC and relevant Albanian institutions in this aspect?
– We have much to learn from the Albanian example of interfaith harmony and respect. So does the rest of the world. We would be delighted to explore ways to cooperate more closely.
– Could you please give some highlights of AJC’s activity to advocate for Israel, especially when it is at bad times, and as a follow up, Sir, how do you assess the situation between Israel and Palestinians? Do you hope that there will be a long-standing and just peace between Israelis and Palestinians?
– We proudly advocate for the U.S.-Israel relationship, which is based both on shared values and interests. And we travel the globe, reaching as many as 115 countries per year, to advance Israel’s place in the world. Of late, there have been two particularly striking advances. First, more and more Arab countries are engaging directly with Israel in many sectors. Second, Israel has become a global leader in 21st century technology, leading an ever increasing number of nations, companies, and investment funds to seek links in Israel. The change from, say, a decade ago has been nothing less than transformational.
Regarding prospects for peace with the Palestinians, we continue to hope for a breakthrough that could lead to an enduring accord and a new era of coexistence and cooperation. But, tragically, the Palestinians have said “no” to one proposal after another since the original two-state was recommended by the UN in 1947. We won’t give up our efforts, however, because the cause of peace is too precious to abandon.
– Albania has a large Diaspora spread in many countries, including the US. AJC has a rich experience on key issues related with the Israel-Diaspora relationship. How can you share your experience with Albania in this regard?
– We have offered to share our own 113-year experience as an advocacy organization with our Albanian friends. Indeed, it was a topic that we raised in almost every meeting here in Tirana, and it wasn’t for the first time, either. Like Jews, Albanians can be found in many countries, including the U.S. Perhaps there ought to be an American Albanian Committee, making the case in a nonpartisan fashion to the American people why a strong link with Albania serves America’s interests. Also, we have dealt with “homeland-diaspora” issues for decades, and would be happy to share our experiences and lessons learned.
– Which is your comment on the rise of extremism and anti-Semitism from the far-right in some European countries, and in you view do they undermine EU’s core commitment to the protection of human dignity and the values of democracy, pluralism, and mutual respect?
– We are deeply concerned about the resurgence of antisemitism in Europe during the past two decades. Depending on the country, the main source may be the extreme right, the extreme left, or jihadists. More broadly, strong currents of populism and xenophobia also challenge Europe’s remarkable progress towards peace, prosperity, and unity. Let’s remember that the European Union, above all, has prevented war among its members, strengthened democratic values, and championed pluralism. Heaven forbid that Europe should ever return to its past of endless wars, bloodshed, denial of human rights, religious clashes, or disputed borders.
– As far as I could learn AJC follows attentively among others developments in the Western Balkans, where there are still divisions and even hate among people of the region, which has experienced bloody wars in the past. Which would be your advice that the bitter past become a lesson for not letting the regressive forces plunge the region again in a bloodshed?
– Perhaps one story will explain AJC’s approach. After Slobodan Milosevic unleashed his ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians, as Jews, we felt we could not sit idly by. Not only did we urge a vigorous response by the US and NATO, but we also wanted to assist the victims. We traveled to the refugee camps in what is today North Macedonia to express our solidarity. We met hundreds of refugees. But when we left, we asked ourselves if this was really enough. We knew it wasn’t. So we had an idea. Some of the refugee camps were run by the German army. We decided to travel to Germany and propose that AJC and the Bundeswehr partner to provide additional help to the refugees, including tents, blankets, and medicine. The idea was readily accepted, and it happened. Besides the material support, we wanted to send a message to the Balkans and the world. If Germans in uniform and the American Jewish Committee could undertake humanitarian projects together after the Holocaust, then anything was possible if only people dared to dream – and to act on their dreams.
– Three days are not too long stay in Albania. However with what impressions are you leaving this country and which is your message to Albanians?
– Albania is a special country, well worth visiting and exploring. Now if only you can solve the current political gridlock and underlying issues, the sky is the limit!
