Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Ambassador Philip T. Reeker paid an official visit to Tirana. During his stay in the Albanian capital, Ambassador Reeker met with, among others, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Democratic Party Chairman Lulzim Basha. He also had a working lunch with Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka and the Ministers of Defense and Justice.

According to a statement from the US Embassy, ​​Mr. Reeker "in all his meetings, underlined President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken’s determination that the fight against corruption, including through designations, is a core national security interest for the United States".

Last month, Secretary Blinken announced the decision to ban former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his family from entering the United States for major corruption. Mr. Berisha spoke of a decision "unfounded in facts and evidence". While the Democratic President Lulzim Basha has publicly expressed his regret and has called for "full transparency on every fact and document related to this decision."

What stood out during Mr. Reeker's visit was the lack of a meeting with President Iir Meta. A spokesman for the US embassy told VOA that "for reasons of agenda building, a meeting with President Meta was not possible this time."

Head of the Albanian state, especially in recent months, has been in a course of confrontation with the American Ambassador Yuri Kim, while he used harsh tones against the decision of the American Department towards Mr. Berisha, calling it a "leaflet" or an ugly act of filth and treachery that has to do only with anti-Albanian lobbying and nothing else”.

According to the US Embassy, ​​Ambassador Reeker " congratulated Albania’s leaders on their success in hosting Exercise Defender Europe 21, which highlighted Albania’s strategic role in the region". He also "welcomed Albania’s role in the region and on the global stage as Albania takes a seat on the UN Security Council".

The US Assistant Secretary of State " reiterated the United States’ strong support for reforms within the justice system and in fighting organized crime, highlighting how progress on these issues will promote democracy, defense, and business in Albania and continue Albania’s path towards EU accession”.

To prove his support for Justice Reform, he also spoke with a group of magistrates who have gone through the vetting process. An embassy spokesman explained to VOA that “Assistant Secretary of State Reeker and Ambassador Kim met with judges and prosecutors, marking a new era of Albanian justice.

"These magistrates were chosen because they represent those who have met the level of integrity and professionalism, either by meeting the new strict requirements to become servants of Albanian justice, or by going through the difficult but necessary vetting process." The spokesman further stressed that "trusted professionals, such as these women and men, are creating an independent but accountable justice system, and are working tirelessly to give fair and impartial justice to the Albanian people."

(Source: VOA)