US officials on the country’s issues

TIRANA, May 5 As part of the Speaker’s Bureau program many US officials visit different institutions in Albania to speak of the daily issues that would be of their interest.
On May 4, Mindy Michels spoke to two classes at the University of New York in Tirana, Tirana on human sexuality. Mindy spoke on covered cross-cultural and historical expressions of same-sex sexuality, as well as contemporary gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender identities and cultural issues in the U.S. and Albania. Students engaged in lively discussion and debate following the lecture, and posed questions about contemporary research, sexual orientation as a basis for human rights, and the situation for gay and lesbian people in Albania.
In a May 2 interview for Albania’s top circulation daily Shekulli, U.S. Speaker Kathleen Rogers, President of the “Earth Day Network,” responded to questions about Albania’s plans to build coal and nuclear plants. Rogers told the paper, “There is nothing good about using coal,” and “A nuclear plant is an accident waiting to happen.” Speaking about her meetings with Albanian environment specialists, GOA officials, and students, Rogers said, “Albania has the extraordinary opportunity to avoid the mistakes that the U.S. made,” and recommended a strong role for the press, the NGO community, and an open and honest government. During the interview with the top daily and during her May 1 appearance on the morning show of news-based TV Ora, Rogers highlighted the benefits of businesses and communities in “going green.”
On April 30, Political-Military Officer Tony Baird visited the Foreign Language Faculty of Tirana State University to discuss Albania’s recent accession to NATO. The visit was a part of the Embassy’s Speaker’s Bureau Program. Baird gave an overview of the history of NATO and how Albania’s membership fit into the historical and global context of NATO. Students posed very insightful questions concerning the relevance of NATO in the changing global security climate, the potential influence of smaller members, and current threats to NATO’s security.