The US Ambassador in Tirana, Yuri Kim, congratulated all Albanians on New Year’s Day on Friday, while emphasizing that “the US and Albania have made historic progress towards strengthening democracy, expanding cooperation in the field of defense and increasing opportunities for joint ventures.”
In a video message, Ambassador Kim states that it is hard to believe that 2021 is coming to an end. It was definitely a year of extraordinary challenges, as the world continued to face the COVID-19 pandemic and as Albania continued its recovery after the 2019 earthquake and faced this year’s floods and fires.
“Despite these and other challenges, the United States and Albania not only celebrated the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, but also made historic progress toward strengthening democracy, expanding our defense cooperation and increasing our common business opportunities,” stressed Kim.
The Ambassador states that “we proudly supported you as we move forward in the implementation of justice refor, after three years of dormancy the Constitutional Court began to function earlier this year, joining other elements of Albanian justice, including SPAK and BKH. Thanks to your professionalism and dedication, we have begun to see real results in the fight against corruption, organized crime and impunity.”
Further on she admitted justice reform has not been easy, fast or perfect, it is moving forward, bringing Albania closer as an EU member and to the US.
According to Kim, the ODHIR report concluded that the election process took place in an organized, transparent and peaceful manner this year.
At the same time, the report noted shortcomings and irregularities, and it is looked forward to supporting Albania in the efforts to respond to the ODHIR recommendations, Kim said.
This year, Kim continues, Albania also hosted Defender Europe 21, the largest US-led military exercise ever held in the Western Balkans. Further, she said that “based on the memorandum of Economic Cooperation that we signed in 2020 this year, large American businesses came to Albania to launch the project of the Skavica hydropower plant and the Vlora power plant. We are excited about next year ‘s opportunities for more trade and investment between the US and Albania.” Kim hopes to reach even further in 2022, to make the two countries fairer, stronger and more prosperous.
“On behalf of the US Embassy, thank you for the wonderful year we left together and send you our best wishes for the coming year,” Kim said. / Argumentum.al
