U.S. embassy announces initiative to promote community and civil society participation in solving Albania’s problems.
TIRANA, June 21 – The United States is urging Albanians to act to have their voice heard. In cooperation with key respected Albanians without political affiliations, U.S. Ambassador Alexander Arvizu launched Thursday the Albanian Citizens Together: ACT Now! Initiative
The initiative is focused on strengthening democratic principles by engaging Albanian citizens in projects on four key issues: healthcare, education, environment and governance.
Addressing the event Ambassador Arvizu appealed for a stop to the gloomy reality with road accidents, blood feuds and the destruction of the environment
Noting some progress, Arvizu also asked some rhetorical questions about the often harsh and gloomy reality that faces Albanians 365 days of the year.
“ACT Now is for every citizen,” the ambassador noted. “It is for the change that everyone wants, the change everyone speaks about, or every corner of this blessed land. It is found in the grief of Elbasan for the accident’s victims, as well as in Dukagjin where a family lost their daughter due to unprecedented violence. It is found in the heartbreak of Saranda’s citizens, where a picturesque city has lost all its appeal and is covered in concrete. It is found in the heartbreak of Gjirokastra, where historical houses are turning into rubble due to negligence. It is found in Tirana where vehicle movement is chaotic and dangerous to pedestrians. It is time to act now, this moment.”
In a heartfelt speech, the ambassador appealed to the civil society not to stop its work, but to fight for its space and rights. “I am certain that most of you say, poor Mr. Arvizu. Maybe he means well, but this is Albania, things are different here. Things shouldn’t be like this,” said Arvizu.
The initiative comes out of concern that space for civil society activity is shrinking, and people’s concerns often go unheard by those in power or in the political elites.
Albania’s most famous author Ismail Kadare, former President Alfred Moisiu and many activists and scholars have joined the initiative. They say it’s the right thing to deal with issues currently plaguing life in Albania.
“We need to to deal with the destruction of the coastline, a moral abyss [tied to corruption], a deterioration of culture and the weakening of the education system,” Kadare said in a video tied to the initiative. “Furthermore, the country is headed into a complete disaster if everyone believes the justice system simply does not work.”
Independent analysts note the initiative is a strategic idea that comes out frustration among many with the political class, which dominates Albanian life and has done little to address ailing social problems. They say the initiative has the potential to become a social movement, a cultural movement and a political movement – not in the typical political party sense but in the context of society engagement to advance the future of Albania.
