TIRANA, May 17 – A number of international news sources reported Albania attended the US Embassy’s opening ceremony in Jerusalem although the country voted to approve a resolution rejecting the U.S. decision a few weeks back.
However, according to Albanian diplomatic sources, the ambassador had confirmed attendance but withdrew at the last minute and was not at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Embassy to Tirana called on the Albanian government not to join the opening ceremony of the US Embassy to Jerusalem on Monday.
Media agencies such as Forbes and Al Jazeera published infographics of the countries which attended the opening, and Albania was one of them. Regional investigative media also reported Albania, Romania, Macedonia and Serbia attended.
Meanwhile, national broadcaster Top-Channel reported the Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs declared the country’s stand on this matter is known and has remained unchanged, meaning that it was still against the US Embassy opening in Jerusalem.
Only on Thursday did diplomatic sources from the country’s ministry of foreign affairs confirm the ambassador had withdrawn last minute, without explaining why.
In Albania, Trump’s recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and following opening of the US Embassy there caused debate as Albania joined 128 other UN member states at the UN General Assembly in approving a resolution rejecting the U.S. decision.
Although the vote was a departure from Albania’s previous UN votes, which have always been aligned with the US, experts at the at the Albanian Institute for International Studies said the vote marked one of the best moments of Albanian diplomacy in the past four or five years, showing a positive and independent thinking in international affairs.
As for the Palestinian Embassy, it has blamed “Israeli violation and arrogance officially backed by the United States” for the events unfolding in Gaza, in a statement sent to the media.
According to this statement, the Israeli right-wing government is using every chance to continue what it called the “hebrewization” process of occupied Jerusalem.
“At the same time,” the statement said, “we consider President Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem, as well as his decision to transfer the US Embassy to occupied Jerusalem, as an unstoppable aggression towards our people and rights.”
Top US officials, including President Donald Trump’s daughter and husband attended the opening, which took place on Monday.
