Withers, letter to Albanians

Here is the full letter that Mr. Withers addressed to the Albanian people:

Dear friends!

I am writing to comment on a State Department statement of a few days ago that might have caused misconceptions about my views on Albania. I have received no formal notice about the statement and must, therefore use material I received second hand. Although the statement provides only information that is already publicly well known, I wish to be certain that none of you mistakenly believes that I hold positions that I, in fact, do not hold or that I have said things that I, in fact, did not say.
 
The Department statement makes five points. I would like to address each of
them in turn. The statement asserts that:

• My views are that of a private citizen: this is absolutely true, as I have always made clear, both in my remarks to the Albanian media and the speeches I give here in America.

Ambassador’s Arvizu views represent the official positions of the U.S. government: this is absolutely true. Alexander Arvizu is the American Ambassador in Albania. He speaks on behalf of the US government.

The US strongly supports Albania as a Nato member. So do I. Indeed there was no finer moment during my ambassadorship than the day when Albania was invited into the NATO alliance. Today, the heroism of Albanian soldiers in NATO operations, such as the valor of Captain Vogli and Corporal Peci, makes me very proud.

The USA strongly supports Albania’s EU aspirations. I firmly believe that Albania’s EU membership would be a stellar achievement for your country and Europe. And that is why the latest progress report of the EU for Albania was so disappointing, and why it is vital for Albania to commit to the fulfillment of the EU criteria.

The government and the opposition must work cooperatively and responsibly for resolving their political differences and in governing in the national interest;
I hold that it is critically important for your political leadershipt to overcome,
to quote my last interview, “the divisievness that now prevails between the main political parties, a division so bitter that has made the governing, without mentioning the reforms that the country so much needs – almost to stall.”

In conclusion, I don’t gave any problem with any of the problems raised in the State Department declaration. I agree with all five points. However, the declaration does not address my central area of concern, the one on which I focused my remarks on the past: Albania’s eroding democracy. Simply, I fear that too much power is being focused in a few hands. Under the unstoppable pressure of the government, the independent institutions that are key for guarding the democratic practices, the rule of raw and the honest elections, have been seriously weakened; the war for guarding power has eclipsed the governing as a government’s priority, and if the current tendencies will continue, Albania risks falling under the regime of the strongest, which has been the tragedy of Balkan during the entire history.

These are my views, and allow me to reiterate that these are my views as a private US citizen. But in a wider perspective, my views and those of every foreign observer, official or not, do not approach to your views, the views of the Albanian people.

Do you believe that your government is really democratic? Do you believe that it is acting on your behalf? Do you believe that it is saying the truth? Do you believe that the courts give justice for everyone? Do you believe that the government is taking transparent commercial and economic decisions? Do you believe that they are seriously fighting corruption and nepotism? Do you believe that the politics is approving and bringing new jobs that will create options for your children? Do you see a future full of hope, or full of pessimism and despair?

These are only some of the questions to which only you can respond.

I value this opportunity for sharing my views with you, dear Albanian friends. Although some of you might not agree with my sincerity, I promise that I will always say the truth as I see it.

My best wishes to all of you!

Your friend.

John L. Withers, II

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