U.S. ambassador meets with the opposition

TIRANA, Sep 8 – John L. Withers, U.S. Ambassador in Tirana, met with opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama on Monday.
There was no announcement prior to the meeting, held midday at Rama’s headquarters, and local television stations only broadcast pictures of the ambassador leaving the offices.
Neither the political party nor the embassy released any statement about the meeting.
A general statement was released saying the ambassador has begun a series of meetings with local politicians after recently returning from Washington.
However, it was noted that the meeting was held only hours before the start of the new parliamentary session late Monday.
The new session is expected to discuss the electoral reform and also the lustration law, two of the main issues being currently debated among the country’s politicians.