Luli-Faber appointed new ambassador to Washington
Floreta Luli-Faber had previously served for 14 years as executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania
President approves long-time AmCham manager as Albania's new ambassador to the United States
TIRANA, Feb. 2 - President Bujar Nishani has approved the appointment of Floreta Luli-Faber as the new Albanian ambassador to the United States.
The new ambassador, one of Albania's best known business community representatives, replaces Gilbert Galanxhi, whose mandate has ended.
Based in Washington, Luli-Faber will also cover Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Panama as a non-resident ambassador, the presidential decision noted.
Luli-Faber is best known for her deep knowledge of economic and trade ties between Albania and the United States, after serving for 14 years as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania.
The Shkodër native comes from a lengthy career as a manager. She was educated in Norway and Albania.
The presidential approval comes after a lengthy delay since Luli-Faber was first nominated by the government last year.
Due to disagreements between the president and the government, there had been a delay in approval for several ambassador nominations, including the key Washington posting.
The delays are not unique to this administration. Albanian legislation gives final approval on ambassadorial appointments to the president, which has led to friction over the years between the heads of state and the government over appointments.
Albania also recently received a new U.S. ambassador, with Donald Lu taking the helm at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana.
After resuming diplomatic relations in 1991 at the end of the communist regime in Albania, Washington and Tirana have had a very close relationship. Albania joined NATO in 2009, and has been a strong U.S. supporter internationally.
Albanians are Europe’s most pro-American people, public opinion polls show.
