Tirana Times
TIRANA, Sept. 21 – Organized anti-American feelings in Albania? They do exist, even in what is likely the world’s most pro-American state, says U.S. Ambassador Alexander Arvizu.
In an interview Tuesday evening on an all-news Albanian television station Mr. Arvizu said “organized anti-Americanism” exists in Albania. The ambassador first used the words of an Albanian political analyst, then his own to describe the movement.
“Back in April, he [Albanian journalist Artur Zheji] wrote an article, I think it was in Gazeta MAPO and I think it was called ‘Directed anti-Americanism.’ And he explained a phenomenon which is quite clear to me now, which is what we saw back then was directed anti-Americanism; it was organized activity, it has a cell, it has leadership, it has its enthusiast supportersŠit has its vehicle. It’s an organized activity designed toŠcare with political aims,” Arvizu said, according the English U.S. Embassy transcript of the interview.
He added, “Now, in a democratic society, I accept that, but I think it’s misleading to say, to describe itƵnfortunately this gets back to people in the United States and they say, ‘Oh, what is this aboutŧ And I say you know, it’s something directed; it’s not something that is organic, it’s not something that happens on its own. No, it’s something that is paid for, you, know, it’s designed, it had like a plan and a means to an end. That’s what it is. I think that it is important to recognize that for what it is. We know what’s going on here.”
The ambassador’s words were too vague to make a direct conclusion about who they were aimed at, but they were largely received with surprise by the Albanian public opinion.
According to annual studies by the Albanian Institute for International Studies, the United States is perceived by the Albanian society as the most important power to Albania from the point of strategic relations of the Albanian government.
An AIIS expert tells Tirana Times there are no organizations or individuals in Albania trying to mobilize the Albanian society against any U.S. policy, something that might have happened in the past in other U.S. strategic allies in Europe.
That’s even less the case, says Albert Rakipi of AIIS, when it to comes to any political or civic organizations. “There are no attempts to mobilize the Albanian society against the U.S. or even to cultivate any animosity toward the U.S.,” he says.
Rakipi adds, “At the end of the day, we just have our views based on the research that we have done and the facts that we know, and we give our interpretation on them. The U.S. Embassy of course may have its facts, but I think that there cannot be an effort that would find support against the U.S. in Albania no matter how organized it is. It just can’t be successful.”
Tirana and Albanians consider the United States their greatest ally, strategic partner, quite the opposite to what it was considered under the communist regime. Albania joined NATO in 2009 and the U.S. has been a main backer of efforts to reform the small Balkan country’s military.
Albania has always supported Washington’s world’s policy and was one of the first countries to commit troops to Afghanistan and Iraq.
There have been no anti-American terrorist efforts in Albania since 1998 when U.S. intelligence officials broke up a planned bombing by a group affiliated with al-Qaida that targeted the U.S. Embassy in capital Tirana. Even then, the plotters were foreigners, not Albanians. Albanian’s feelings as most pro-American in the world were noted during former President George W. Bush visited Albania in 2007 and ex-Secretary of State James A. Baker in 1991.
Baker and Albanians will never forget that great welcome he had in Tirana, at Skanderbeg Square that has never seen that many people since then.
Washington and its ambassador in Tirana is always a point of reference, a pillar from which Albanians always have expected the solution of their problems mostly caused from their politicians. The role of the U.S. ambassador is especially conspicuous in times of crisis in the country and it has always been the strong hand giving an end to the local political squabbling.
Full exchange from the transcript at the U.S. Embassy site:
Journalist Ilva Tare: Mr. Ambassador, perhaps for the first time ever, various opinion makers have showed an increasing level of anti-Americanism in response to your statements following January 21st. Some of them say that the United States is willing to sacrifice Albanian democracy for the sake of stability. Fortunately, what came out of WikiLeaks – and thanks also to your direct involvement in Njesia 5 – seem to have pacified this anti-American feeling.
Ambassador Arvizu: I think you’re talking about two different phenomena. One is criticism of the United States and the second thing is anti-Americanism. Let’s take criticism of the United States first. I think it is importantŠIn fact, everyone understands, it is fine to criticize. People should be critical of the United States. I get a little uncomfortable when I don’t hear criticism. Now, I think it helps when it is constructive. But let me name four opinion makers whose writings I try to read with some regularity. Andi Bushati, Andrea Stefani, Mustafa Nano, and Sk쯤er Minxhozi. I think all four of them are friends of the United States. They are certainly personal friends of mine. But all of them have written things at various junctures that have been critical of the United States, sometimes of me personally. We’ve had in fact, this thing about democracy and stability, with Skender Minxhozi, we’ve gone back and forth a couple of times. I think we agreed to disagree. But I was sorry to hear that MAPO revista ceased publication. He’ll be fine, but I hope the publication in some form can come back. Anyway, I wanted to establish that criticism of the United States is absolutely in balance, it is fine.
But let’s talk about what you described as anti-Americanism, just a little bit. In a country like Albania people say it’s 96% pro-American. Well, that 4% may be or not. There’s always going to be a strand of that. I understand that, I accept that, and you can even argue that that’s healthy to a degree. But I think we’re talking about a different phenomenon. Let me name one more commentator: Artur Zheji. I know some of you viewers will say, oh God, Artur Zheji. Again, you can form your own opinion about him, but he’s another opinion maker whose writings I do get. Back in April, he wrote an article, I think it was in Gazeta MAPO and I think it was called “Directed anti-Americanism.” And he explained a phenomenon which is quite clear to me now, which is what we saw back then was directed anti-Americanism; it was organized activity, it has a cell, it has leadership, it has its enthusiast supportersŠit has its vehicle. It’s an organized activity designed toŠcare with political aims. Now, in a democratic society, I accept that, but I think it’s misleading to say, to describe itƵnfortunately this gets back to people in the United States and they say, “Oh, what is this aboutŢ And I say you know, it’s something directed; it’s not something that is organic, it’s not something that happens on its own. No, it’s something that is paid for, you, know, it’s designed, it had like a plan and a means to an end. That’s what it is. I think that it is important to recognize that for what it is. We know what’s going on here.
Ilva Tare: You know who’s behind this?
Ambassador Arvizu: I think so.
Ilva Tare: Can you make that public?
Ambassador Arvizu: No, I think all of your viewers know. The people who are doing it certainly know.
Ilva Tare: Are you warning them?
Ambassador Arvizu: I think they knowō
Ilva Tare: Have you told this to them in person?
Ambassador Arvizu: I don’t need to.
