FLASH
Shkruar nga Antony Blinken
The United States and Albania established relations more than 100 years ago, for half of this period these diplomatic relations did not exist, but today I am very convinced that the new century, the coming century will see that we, our countries will safer, more stable world and you will be the ones to do it.
Good day everyone and thank you for a wonderful hospitality in the land of eagles.
I feel the warm environment outside, but I especially feel the warmth in this room and in every other room I've been in Tirana. I can't tell you how grateful I am! Flora, thank you for your leadership role. It is a testament to the strength of our youth programs and to be with you today to celebrate the achievements of these programs is an important moment and appreciation for your work to strengthen the relationship between our countries.
Thank you to Mr. David Wisner who leads the embassy in Tirana and all the activities of the embassy to connect people between our two countries and especially Mr. Prime Minister, Ed.
I thank you and I am very happy to be with you today in a city that you, as a former mayor, have energized and given beautiful colors. I am grateful, but most of all I am grateful for the incredible partnership that we both have. Mr. Prime Minister is not only an outstanding leader, but also a very good Prime Minister and these last 4 years that we have worked together, every difficulty you have had, Mr. Prime Minister has been by our side and has faced these difficulties together with us .
Now, people have said that this place, this building shows the path of Albania since the end of the Cold War, where the construction was completed 35 years ago. The building was dedicated to a dictator who took Albanians to concentration camps and represented the past. Back then, the only relationship between our countries was the voice on VOA, but today, look around. This place is filled with light, with activity, there are cafes, technical incubator halls, a powerful living symbol of the future and the present of relations between the USA and Albania where Albanians learn how they can live in the United States. This building was also rebuilt with the investment of the Albanian American Fund.
Everything that you and I saw today on the streets of Tirana, you can see energy, optimism for the future, a future integrated with the West, with Europe, with the world. Last year a record number of tourists visited Albania. The football team qualified for the second time in the European Championship and the last time was in 2016, it was the last time that a Secretary of State visited Albania and I don't want to say that there is any relationship between them, but maybe I will come during the finals of European Cup, maybe I can help you.
You are also seeing the strong ties between our two countries in other ways. Americans young and not and many young are dancing the night away with Dua Lipa, the chief technology officer at OpenAI one of the people connecting the world for AI is Mira Murati. In New York, one of the best restaurants is an Albanian restaurant. These are some examples that explain something bigger. Albania's transition to the new world was not as simple as turning on the lights. The secret was in the young people like you in this room who made the difference. Young people like you are essential to transform Albania's future.
Here among us today we have journalists who are exposing corruption and we have women entrepreneurs who start their own businesses, who fight against extremism and are making Albania even more open and inclusive. Some of you have welcomed the Afghan families who escaped from the Taliban, and this shows the hospitality of the Albanians and the hospitality of the Albanians. Before I came here I was in our embassy and I met with some Afghan families who have come from Afghanistan here in Albania and are waiting to go to the USA for a new life. Their journey would not be possible without Albania, without Albania's help, and it is not only the fact that you are welcoming them with open arms, but also the way you are welcoming them, which is very powerful. I want to tell you that it was very exciting for me that among the Afghan refugees there were two parents, husband and wife who have 5 children and each of these children were number 1 in school, in their class, and when the Taliban came to power, the girls couldn't go to school, but anyway they tried to find offices to teach the girls through the internet, and their twin girls at the age of 14 who have been here in Albania for about 1 year, they during this time have learned English fluently and have very clear ideas about their future. One of the sisters will be in fashion, the other will be in business, I also gave them an idea that they can work together in their fashion business.
But you can see that incredible hope in their eyes, hope that was taken from them by the Taliban, but has been revived simply because they came here to Albania, on their way to America. I too am very grateful for our partnership to help refugees from Afghanistan. Dea Rrozhani here from Tirana is from our embassy's technical girls program.
This program brings young women to the United States to learn science and technology. She created an AP to fight violence and she is currently at the University of Pennsylvania. She said I don't close my eyes to problems, I attack these problems and try to act to solve them. This is also the whole essence of these exchange programs, which we are bringing here in Albania.
No country has a monopoly on good ideas, we want to learn from you, just as we hope you can learn from us. The relations between our people, our peoples is the essence for the exchange of ideas.
For the past 30 years I have worked for the United States government and traveled the world. Somewhere, everywhere I have some person who has an original idea to solve a problem. But if this experience cannot be shared, then the rest of the world cannot benefit from this experience. So, the more we share our ideas and experience, the better off we will be.
The United States and Albania established relations more than 100 years ago, for half of this period these diplomatic relations did not exist, but today I am very convinced that the new century, the coming century will see that we, our countries will safer, more stable world and you will be the ones to do it. I too am very grateful for the role you all play here and I hope very much for your future and your contribution to building this future.
Thank you!
Lini një Përgjigje