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“I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the opposition and they have expressed their commitment to NATO and European integration as well as the fight against corruption,” said the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar after a meeting with the Chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Lulzim Basha.
Escobar has come to Tirana in the frame of a tour in the Western Balkan countries.
He expressed the pleasure that the US is part of the efforts against corruption, including sanctions. “But to make this a reality, I will ask for a strong commitment from the Albanian institutions,” said Escobar.
The senior US diplomat also added that he looks forward to meeting Basha in Washington as soon as possible.
After the meeting, the leader of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha said that the fight against corruption is defined as a national interest of the United States and is even more the national interest of Albania.
“With Escobar, we discussed all issues of Albanian political current affairs, of course also the situation in the region, with special emphasis, certainly on those issues that have to do with the rights of Albanians and in particular with Kosovo. I made clear to Escobar the position of the Democratic Party on the inviolability of the territorial integrity of Kosovo,” said Basha.
The DP leader said that he also discussed with him issues related to reforms in Albania, where the key remains an independent justice that does not protect, but punishes corrupt politicians.
Asked by reporters if they discussed the designation of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha as persona non grata by the US, Basha said that it is indisputable that the issue of impunity as well as the policies of non grata sanctions were part of the discussion. / Argumentum.al
