As the United States and Albania mark two decades of strong friendship, the relationship is changing, experts say. And change is not necessarily a bad thing
By ANDI BALLA
Until the mid 1960s, U.S. passports used to have a little note on them: “Not valid for travel to Albania,” says Nicholas Pano, an Albanian-American scholar. (Others in the “not valid” list included the likes of North Korea, Cuba and North Vietnam). It was an acknowledgment of the deep hostility and divide between the two countries placed there after World War II by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha.
“We had to fight really hard to get Albania out of there,” says Pano about the Albanian-American community’s efforts through the years to help promote good relations between Albania and the United States.
The Albanians, whether they were in the United States or Albania itself, never bought much into the communist propaganda, so as soon as the dictatorship ended two decades ago, there was an outpouring of support for the United States. The U.S. promotion of values like freedom, democracy and the rule of law – and the economic prosperity they create – is something Albanians innately seek. Albanians had also not forgotten U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s role protecting the very existence of their country. Add to the mix the U.S.-led NATO intervention in 1999 to save half the Albanian nation in neighboring Kosovo from being ethnically cleansed – and you end up with Albanians today likely being among the most pro-American people in the world.
So today, there is no doubt the current relationship between Albania and the United States is strong, sincere and extremely important for Albania. But what does the future hold?
It’s something scholars from Albania and the United States came together to ponder in an international conference organized Oct. 6 by the Albanian Institute for International Studies and the U.S. Embassy in Tirana.
The relationship is changing with the passage of time, the experts say, and it will continue to evolve, but there is little doubt it will continue to be close.
Professor Pano was one of the speakers. In his presentation, he charted how the relationship has changed in the past 100 years from the perspective of the Albanian American community.
Albert Rakipi of AIIS tried to look a little further to the future.
Albania is a small country, so of course the relationship with the world’s largest economy and top military power will remain asymmetrical, Rakipi notes. “But deepening the relationship further will mean having a partner relationship,” he says, adding Albania needs to do a more critical analysis about where it wants its future relations with the United States to be. “Support without reservation for U.S. global policies is not enough to build a partner relationship,” says Rakipi. “We need to look at what is still left to develop in areas in Albania’s interest like economic relations, technology and education.”
It’s also important to note, he adds, that a true partner relationship with the United States can only exist if Albania itself is able to have a functioning democracy as well as a modern society.
The vital goal for Albania’s future is its aim to become an EU member, and Rakipi adds the United States has fully supported that aim. “Developing substantial relations with the United States helps Albania prepare for EU membership,” says Rakipi. “On the other hand, developing and deepening relations with the EU and its member states does not in anyway hinder the good relations with the United States.”
Bernd Fischer, an American expert on Albania and a professor at Indiana University-Purdue Fort Wayne says the relationship between Albania and the United States has had a shift in focus and will likely continue to do so simply because the circumstances change with the passing of time.
“I can see the relationship is changing,” Fischer says. “But that doesn’t mean that change is necessarily a bad thing.”
Earlier U.S. policies were based on political and security issues that affected the entire region, he adds. As the region and Albania move on as stable places working to fully develop their economies, the relationship will shift to assist the new needs instead of the past’s security needs.
It’s an evolution that is also acknowledged by Washington’s top man in Tirana, U.S. Ambassador Alexander Arvizu, who also spoke at the conference. Ambassador Arvizu has had a busy week commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the re-establishment of U.S.-Albania relations. At an event the night before the conference he urged Albanians to make their dreams come true. The United States will always be there to help, he said.
“You can be assured the United States will continue to be on the side of the Albanian people – that is, on your side, of all of you – as you work to realize the dreams of generations of Albanians – past, present, and future.”
It’s a message that has not been lost in Albania’s leaders. Albanian President Bamir Topi said at the conference the feeling is shared.
“The United States have been, remain and will always be our greatest ally,” he said. “I have felt this as a politician, as a common citizen: the extraordinary care to safeguard and foster this friendship and to consolidate and grow this democracy that we are enjoying together these days.”
Elez Biberaj, director of the Eurasia Division Voice of America and the voice of VoA radio for an entire generation of Albanians looks back at what has happened in the past twenty years and sees profound transformations, yet Albania’s democracy remains fragile, he notes.
“The United States has made substantial political and economic investments toward Albania’s democratic development. Yet despite this unwavering commitment toward Albania’s democratization and prosperity, it is clear that Albania’s future success and growth will depend on the ability and willingness of its political leaders to put aside their narrow interests,” he says. “These are times that demand great leadership and a clear sense of direction. I remain hopeful that Albania’s leaders will rise to the occasion.”
