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"Albania has very little America inside", Ilir Kulla analyzes Tirana-Washington relations
Security expert Ilir Kulla, invited to " Të Pashoq ", has spoken extensively about Prime Minister Edi Rama's relations with the United States and the political situation in the country. He said that the public reading of messages from American officials is often misinterpreted, explaining that the letter that former President Donald Trump sent to President Bajram Begaj is simply protocol, as the American president communicates only with his counterpart. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's message to Prime Minister Rama, according to him, is part of normal communication between the two governments.
Kulla said that Albania-US relations are not as deep as they are perceived. He stressed that there have been no major American investments in the country and that the main ties with Washington are related only to military cooperation, that of the secret services and support for SPAK. According to him, the Americans no longer offer congratulations or symbolic support to the Albanian government because the country is in its fourth mandate and internal problems can no longer be hidden. He stated that the period of “political honeymoon” and comfort between Tirana and Washington has ended.
-How is the truth of the relationship between Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Americans or official Washington? For example, everyone tries to catch and read details. For example, on the holidays of November 28-29, President Trump wrote only to his counterpart Begaj, on the other hand, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's message to Prime Minister Rama, for those days, was very strong. It was not just a congratulatory message below the lines.
Look, let's clarify things one by one. On the issue that President Trump sent the letter to President Begaj, there is a counterpart, you say. Yes, you have to take it to him, because the protocol... where will it take him? The President of America will not take it at a low level. And the thing we need to see is that America is paying attention. Even on the November holidays, it works diplomatically that congratulations come.
Let's come to Rubio's letter, which is a counter-claim to Mr. Rama. Yes, of course. Excuse me, what connection do we have with America? Have you seen any big American business in Albania in these years? We, apart from being a member of NATO, the UN and the Council of Europe, where we and America are part, and we are also part of the OSCE, really have nothing else in bilateral relations.
America–Albania. What are the most important things today? Military cooperation, cooperation between secret services, cooperation with the Department of Justice on crime, on SPAK and others. And the fight against crime, because we really have these. Because if we had had more America inside us, Albania would have been different. We have very little America.
Is American influence strong? Yes, of course it is strong, because in addition to being the leading state and the locomotive of the West, it is also the most important state in NATO. America pays 77% of NATO's budget and has brought us into NATO, which is the last hole in the horse, always meaning in this matter.
Albania does not have problems of the nature of terrorism, there are no problems of the nature of war with neighbors, border changes and others. It is on the path to being in the direction of the European Union and of course the issue of smuggling, drugs and organized crime and money laundering are the main issues that we will talk about. Because these are. And the fact that today Americans no longer congratulate it and do not say "well done, how well you have done" and others, is also related to the fact that we are in the fourth mandate of a government. Problems exist and normally it is not that they will hide behind their finger saying that they do not exist.
What I say is over: the honeymoon period is apparently coming to an end. And the waxing period between the parties. And now we are in that other period that we cannot name, but the people themselves understand. And normally when there is a clash between the executive… in fact more than the executive, politics, because the opposition is also with this, with the Special Prosecutor's Office or with the security institutions in the country, which are supported and upheld by this main ally that we have, but not only them, but also the European Union, and the Italians who are our closest neighbors.
This is my priority, because it's not that we have... but de facto, we have nothing with America and the only things that connect us are crime issues. This is the priority. Yes, you didn't tell me anything about these much-discussed visits, but that no more is known than that. He is trying, given that it is very clear that Albania is entering the countries with not a small economic growth in recent years, at least from COVID onwards, but with a very low presence of foreign investments. And he is trying to absorb investments. To absorb foreign investments. But it is not that easy. It is not easy because of the level of corruption, it is not easy because of the blockage of the administration, it is not easy because of the global geopolitical situation.
So there are many things that are not that easy and he is trying and it is good that he is doing this.
-What's happening with Sazan?
Look, what's happening, I hope that Sazani will be built and that the "Amar" group will build a hotel in Sazan, but so far we are only at the level of words. It will happen, I hope it will happen, that the more foreign investments come to the country, the more the power of the local oligarchs must fall. But large groups must come, large industries must come, they must come. They will come, you know, there is nothing concrete, that is. So far we have not seen anything. We are entering the third year of Mr. Rama's government, I have not seen any of the large groups in the world.
-There is talk that American influence could bring about regime change in Albania...
Look, Edi Rama has 83 votes. If he wants, he can not only finish this term, but with the current state of the opposition, he can also get another term.
-Why doesn't justice become any kind of obstacle, especially when it is said that the Americans are behind it?
Justice can create as many obstacles as it wants, it can remove people, but in the end, all of these people will go to court, there will be a trial, there will be a counter-trial, there will be an appeal. So, all of this has its time.
Has justice succeeded in destroying the public image of Albanian politics and Albanian institutions with their wiretapping and scandals?
Of course it has arrived. And that is why this thing was created. So, independent justice. Of course it will arrive.
But I'm telling you from a political point of view, if something doesn't change in the social point of view, that is, the social movement... you see that the opposition comes out there every day of the week, 200 more people there. Not even 200 people. So, here the whole way of being an opposition and of perception in relation to the change must change. As you said, no one leaves, no one resigns. Therefore, it is not only related to the fact that the Americans will not come to command Albania with the sixth fleet. We are a NATO member country. So, they will help and support some personalities and some characters. Will they be able to do it? Let's see. So far we have not seen anything.
So far, the only opposition leader in Albania is Altin Dumani.
-Why do you say that?
But he is the one who has hit the government more than anyone else. So, today Altin Dumani as the leader of SPAK has the perception that he is the only leader of the opposition in Albania. He has hit the acting deputy prime minister, he has hit the acting mayor, who is in prison, he has hit the former deputy prime minister, who has escaped, a large group of ministers, officials, directors and others.
So, from this perspective, if the Special Prosecution Office had not come under attack, what would others have done?/ Pamphlet
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