Surprise move of the ambassador post in US

TIRANA, July 8 – Albania will continue to have a missing post of
ambassador, this time in the United States.
It was learnt that Spiro Koci, first nomianted for Washington, was moved to the post of ambassador in Vienna, Austria at the country’s mission at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
In February he was proposed for the post of the ambassador in
Washington to replace Aleksander Sallabanda. The parliament’s foreign policy commission had also given its approval and it was believed that the president was also in favor of.
But during the first days this month it was learnt that Foreign
Minister Ilir Meta had sent a letter to the parliament asking it to
speedily approve Koci at the post in Vienna.
It was not known why that made the change but it leaves vacant the important post of ambassador in Washington.
Koci is not the first not to be ‘accepted’ for that post. In 2005
then-President Alfred Moisiu turned down the proposal of Edith Harxhi, now deputy foreign minister, for the post.
It is very likely that the proposal now of Dylber Galanxhi will be the new ambassador in the United States, also covering Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Leaving ambassadors’ posts vacant has become almost a ‘tradition’ during the last years in Albania There were also nominated some other ambassadors. Arben Cici, former counselor to president, is to be taking the post in Denmark. Agim Isaku, ex-premier’s counselor, will go to Slovakia. Flamur Gashi, head of the diaspora department at the foreign ministry, goes to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Vili Minarolli, a Democrat lawmaker and former ambassador to Greece, has become
ambassador to Austria. Dashnor Dervishi, a career diplomat, goes to Athens, Greece, Behar Bejko in the United Arab Emirates, Mira Hoxha, of the ministry’s regional initiatives department, in Hungary, Elvira Isufaj, a diplomat, in Czech Republic, Ilir Tepelena, a career diplomat, in Belgium, also covering Luxembourg, and Kastriot Robo is the ambassador in Spain.
There are many embassies around the world that do not have an
ambassador. No one can mention the real reasons, though, very often, it is believed that is because of the ‘fight’ between the institutions – president with the government – in charge of nominating those posts.
Besides, following the approval of the person for the post from the parliament and the president, it is up to the welcoming country to also give the OK.
That is the protocol that is to be respected any time.
The United States are Tirana’s main strategic partner and the post bears a lot of importance and personality.