Remarks by U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers, II

TIRANA, Jan 26 – U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers II held a speech at the Forum to assure Albania that the US policy towards the country had not changed, but also insisting the Balkan country should do more to show new president Barack Obama and the world how they have entered on a new democratic path.
Withers said that “this is particularly special because for the first time we celebrate the installation of an Afro-American president.”
Withers said that with the new president they expected “a new era in world relations and in U.S.-Albania relations.”
“It will be an era of change,” he said, adding that “As an African-American myself, believe me, I do believe in the changes that he has set out.”
The following is what Withers said on Albania:
But what does this mean for the Balkan region in general and for Albania in particular?
First, let me say this: Albania had no finer friend than President George W. Bush. Under his stewardship, the relationship between my country and Albania reached a peak. Cooperation between our two countries was never better. And this we can see in his strong support for Albania’s full membership in NATO, an event that we certainly hope, that we indeed look forward to occurring in April of this year.
I have spoken with many Albanians of all walks of life. Their love for President Bush touches my heart. It is a proud moment for an American, any American, to see such warmth and respect for the leader of our nation. And, I must say, Mr. Prime Minister, that your relationship with President Bush was instrumental in furthering that friendship and that warmth.
And so, it is natural that I detect a little sadness as President Bush moves on from the presidency on to a new stage in his life. But I assure you, as I have assured all of the Albanians that I have talked to, that President Obama will be a great friend of Albania in the long tradition of American Presidents, extending back to President Wilson. You need have no moment of doubt about that.
Our policies toward this region and toward Albania will be based upon hope and expectation. Our hopes for this region are high and optimistic. And the principles of our policy remains intact. Under President Obama, we foresee an Albania at the center of a Balkan region that is stable and at peace. We see an Albania living, cooperating, aiding its newly independent neighbor – Kosovo – as it has done all these years. We foresee with great expectation and great joy Albania’s incorporation into the most powerful Alliance, in which America has been a part, the NATO Alliance in April. In short, good days for America and Albania lie ahead.
We also have expectations as outlined by President Obama himself. And those expectations, simply put, are the expectations that President Obama has for himself: respect for the constitution, renewed efforts to fight corruption, and in the approach to NATO membership, a devotion to democratic principles and actions that is above all questions.
As Albania moves forward toward these goals, know what a friend President Obama will be. As he himself said, “And so, to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born, know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.”