Political lobbing at the USA

“Lobbing is the influence of a state or a political organization in another state. Washington is the world center of lobbing, due tot he US political system, which is very decentralized, pluralist and where all organizations would feel disfavored if they would not participate in lobbing activities”, Bimo declared.

“Lobbing is a lucrative industry that produces money for a great number of individuals and organizations at the US, centered in Washington where they mediate to the US Congress and the US Administration on behalf of different organizations, state governments and businesses. The lobbing organizations are composed of people who have strong ties with the US administration, mainly former senators and congressmen, who can represent foreign states or businesses in Washington”, Tarifa declared.

“According to Tarifa, it is a rare occasion that the Albanian parties lobby for their interests in Washington.

“Lobbing in America and the financial support of this activity is always made on the national interests of the countries that want to lobby in Washington. It’s not on behalf of the individuals and the political parties. The lobbing in the US might be suspicious when you don’t know where that money is coming from. If the political parties will declare their revenues, then it is easy to see where this money comes from. This money has never been transparent, same as the expenses of the political parties for the elections in Albania”, Tarifa declared.

“In 2003-2004, Albania signed a 250.000 annual USD agreement for lobbing Albania’s NATO accession, led by the Foreign Ministry and approved by the Albanian Parliament, since they were public money. The agreement with this organization was repeated for two consequent years”, Tarifa declared.

“We must admit the fact that the lobbing in Washington is necessary. There are states like Britain and Israel that spend money on lobbing. On Albania’s case, when we have to do it with the taxpayers’ money, there should be more transparency, especially for the objectives that are requested to be reached through lobbing”, Bimo declared.

The US Sunlight Foundation has also identified the US senators and congressmen who have been paid to lobby for the Albanian political parties: senators James Demint, Richard Burr, John McCain, Graham Lindsney and Richard Lugar. From te contressmen, the mostly contacted is Eliot Engel, and then Robert Wexler and Dan Burton. Their lobbing is legal, but the Albanian government has not explained for what did they use 825.000 USD from the taxpayers’ money.

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