Albania–United States relations
Encyclopedia
Albania – United States relations are the international relations
between Albania
and the United States
.
in Washington, D.C. USA maintains an embassy in Tirana
.
n population. Even while the U.S., which had closed its mission to Albania in 1946, was being vilified by communist propaganda during the regime of Enver Hoxha
, ordinary Albanians remembered that Woodrow Wilson
had protected Albanian independence in 1919 and many Albanian children were named Wilson in president's honour. Albanians credit the Clinton Administration with saving Kosovar-Albanian lives in the Kosovo war
, and they greatly appreciate the U.S. Government's commitment to resolving the political status of Kosovo.
and the promotion of defense and military relations; the Adriatic Charter
; and an agreement regarding the non-surrender of persons to the International Criminal Court
. The U.S. strongly supports Albania's European Union and NATO membership goals. Working towards NATO membership, the U.S. and Albania signed a Supplementary Agreement to the Partnership for Peace
Status of Forces Agreement
, an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing security, peace, and stability in the region. In April 2008, NATO invited Albania to join the alliance, and in October 2008, Bush signed Albania NATO protocols, saying, "The people of Albania and Croatia are helping move the world closer to a great triumph of history - a Europe that is whole, a Europe that is free and a Europe that is at peace." Albania joined NATO in 2009 along with Croatia.
food aid. In 2007, the U.S. gave over $21.1 million to Albania under the Support for East European Democracy Act program. Albania was among the countries selected to participate in the Threshold Program under the Millennium Challenge Account, receiving a grant of $13.8 million. In September 2006, Albania began implementation of the program, which targets corruption
and rule of law
.
by freezing terrorist assets, shutting down non-governmental organization
s (NGOs) with possible links to terrorist financing
, expelling extremists, and providing military and diplomatic support for the U.S.-led actions in Afghanistan
and Iraq
. Albania has played a moderating role in the region and has fully supported UN mediation efforts in Kosovo
. Albania also has 600 elite soldiers deployed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force
.
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
between Albania
Foreign relations of Albania
Albanian foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its Balkan neighbours, gaining access to European-Atlantic security institutions, and securing close ties with the United States....
and the United States
Foreign relations of the United States
The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. The United States federal statutes relating to foreign relations can be found in Title 22 of the United States Code.-Pacific:-Americas:-Caribbean:...
.
Embassies and consulates
Albania maintains an embassyEmbassy of Albania in Washington, D.C.
The Albanian Embassy in Washington, D.C. is the Republic of Albania's diplomatic mission to the United States.The building is located at 2100 S Street, Northwest where the Dupont Circle and Kalorama neighborhood boundaries meet....
in Washington, D.C. USA maintains an embassy in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
.
Public sentiment
Pro-United States sentiment is strong and widespread among the AlbaniaAlbania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n population. Even while the U.S., which had closed its mission to Albania in 1946, was being vilified by communist propaganda during the regime of Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
, ordinary Albanians remembered that Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
had protected Albanian independence in 1919 and many Albanian children were named Wilson in president's honour. Albanians credit the Clinton Administration with saving Kosovar-Albanian lives in the Kosovo war
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
, and they greatly appreciate the U.S. Government's commitment to resolving the political status of Kosovo.
Treaties
In 2003, Albania and the U.S. signed and ratified a number of agreements, including a treaty on the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destructionWeapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
and the promotion of defense and military relations; the Adriatic Charter
Adriatic Charter
The Adriatic Charter is an association formed by Albania, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia and United States of America for the purpose of aiding their attempts to join NATO. The Charter was signed on 2 May 2003 in Tirana under the aegis of USA...
; and an agreement regarding the non-surrender of persons to the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
. The U.S. strongly supports Albania's European Union and NATO membership goals. Working towards NATO membership, the U.S. and Albania signed a Supplementary Agreement to the Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union; 22 States are members...
Status of Forces Agreement
Status of Forces Agreement
A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...
, an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing security, peace, and stability in the region. In April 2008, NATO invited Albania to join the alliance, and in October 2008, Bush signed Albania NATO protocols, saying, "The people of Albania and Croatia are helping move the world closer to a great triumph of history - a Europe that is whole, a Europe that is free and a Europe that is at peace." Albania joined NATO in 2009 along with Croatia.
Developmental aid
Since fiscal year 1991, the U.S. has provided Albania with more than $616 million in assistance, not counting Foreign Agricultural ServiceForeign Agricultural Service
The Foreign Agricultural Service is the foreign affairs agency with primary responsibility for the United States Department of Agriculture's overseas programs—market development, international trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection of statistics and market information...
food aid. In 2007, the U.S. gave over $21.1 million to Albania under the Support for East European Democracy Act program. Albania was among the countries selected to participate in the Threshold Program under the Millennium Challenge Account, receiving a grant of $13.8 million. In September 2006, Albania began implementation of the program, which targets corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
.
War on terror
Albania has supported the U.S. in the global War on TerrorismWar on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
by freezing terrorist assets, shutting down non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s (NGOs) with possible links to terrorist financing
Terrorist Financing
Terrorist financing came into limelight after the events of terrorism on 9/11. The US passed the USA PATRIOT Act to, among other reasons, attempt thwarting the financing of terrorism and anti-money laundering making sure these were given some sort of adequate focus by US financial institutions...
, expelling extremists, and providing military and diplomatic support for the U.S.-led actions in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Albania has played a moderating role in the region and has fully supported UN mediation efforts in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. Albania also has 600 elite soldiers deployed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
.