Ambassador meets with interior minister designate
TIRANA, Aug. 14 – Law and order נtackling crime and corruption נwere on top of the agenda of a meeting U.S. Ambassador to Albania Alexander Arvizu held this week with Saimir Tahiri, Albania’s Interior Minister nominee of the new Socialist Party-led government expected to take over by mid-September.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Tahiri at the SP headquarters, Ambassador Arvizu said the United States remains committed to help Albania tackle crime.
“We talked about ways we can exchange experience and prevent crime which is a very tough issue for which there is no magic formula. The most important thing is that Mr. Tahiri and the new government understands that this is an issue which concerns Albanian citizens, and it is of concern for us, because we want to help the Albanian government and citizens with their European integration agenda,” Arvizu said.
Describing the Interior Ministry as one of the key stakeholders of the new government, Arvizu said, “We talked about pragmatic priorities to strengthen the success that has already been achieved. There are some expectations in the field of reforms. We want to be fully supportive to Albania’s European integration agenda. There are some strategic aspects but also operational daily issues. Of course this depends on the new government, they are charged with it, we are here to be a cooperating partner. What we are doing is advising.”
The U.S. Embassy in Albania has earlier welcomed Albania’s newly-designated cabinet ministers and noted with appreciation the nomination of an increased number of women ministers and their proposed assignment to key ministries. The U.S. Embassy said it looks forward to working with the future Council of Ministers, many of whom have had professional and educational experiences in the United States, in the implementation of their reform agenda to achieve Albania’s goals of greater Euro-Atlantic integration.
