U.S. worried about populist nationalistic rhetoric

TIRANA, Jan. 16 – U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker said Wednesday that the nationalistic rhetoric in Albania is not at the proper time and is trying to side-line the attention from other more important issues.
Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, Reeker considered the nationalistic rhetoric as “of concern and unnecessary.”
The recently created Red-and-Black Alliance party of Kreshnik Spahiu and, what is more important, Prime Minister Sali Berisha have increased the tension with neighbors recently as they have sought to focus on national issues.
Spahiu’s party has also made a petition for a request on a referendum to unite Albania with Kosovo.
“That attracts the attention from other very important issues,” said Reeker. “It is just a distraction. It is purely populist and often unfortunate. That is why I believe that it would have been wiser for leaders to focus on how to take the country ahead, especially in the European path which we consider as important for Albania.”
“Instead of dangerous distractions I believe it would be good to focus on the issues of real importance for Albania’s future, especially reforms in the economy,” said Reeker.