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| Senator Joni Ernst on the right and the Albanian journalist Ervin Koçi |
Senator Ernst, thank you for accepting the invitation for this interview. The visit of an American senator is always great news in Albania. What is the purpose of your visit?
I am very happy to be here. The hospitality was extraordinary from the Albanian government, from the Albanian people. First, it was very important for me to visit the Afghan refugees sheltered in Albania and to see if they were okay and to answer the questions they have. We are very grateful for that. Also, to encourage military or economic cooperation with Albania. All these issues are very important to us.
Since August, Albania has joined countries hosting Afghan refugees in solidarity with the United States and as a NATO member. During your visit to Shengjin, what did you find out, do refugees prefer to stay in Albania, or do they want to move to the US?
We saw that most of the Afghans sheltered in Albania want to continue towards the United States, which is important for us as well. These refugees sided with the United States during the 20-year war on terrorism in Afghanistan. So it is important that we stand by their side. And Albania is a very good partner of the United States and we are grateful that your government and the Albanian people were able to welcome these refugees to shelter and feed them. And we are very grateful. But we hope to move Afghans to the United States as soon as possible.
For the last 30 years, Albania has relied on the alliance with the United States of America, as our strategic partner. How do you as senators view these relations, is there room for further strengthening? I ask this question because every time we are at a crossroads, it is a voice from the United States that puts an end to the crisis in our country, which is usually a political crisis.
I hope that we will continue to work closely on strategic cooperation and therefore it is very important that I, as a senator of the United States of America, show my support for Albania to thank you for the extraordinary hospitality you have shown to your Afghan partners, but also for fostering these relationships. Not only in the military aspect, which I think is very important but also connections in the field of business, cooperation in the field of energy and we are seeing that American companies are working with Albanian ones. So, it is important that we continue with this alliance because we see inappropriate influences coming from China, coming from Russia. Therefore, it is important that we stay closely connected and I encourage this.
A question about the political situation in Albania. In May, the US Secretary of State publicly declared "non grata" the former Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, who has sued Mr. Blinken in a Paris court, claiming that there is no evidence for the accusations against him. At the same time, the main opposition force is in crisis, as Berisha demands the removal of Lulzim Basha after his expulsion from the parliamentary group, why not resumption the leadership of the party he founded 30 years ago. How would you comment on this development?
It is somewhat difficult now in the Albanian political spectrum. Look at the United States. We also have our political divisions, but in the US we have found ways to cooperate and overcome divisions and it is more important to find what unites us as a nation, as a political party, than to continue the division. I encourage this as a solution coming from the United States. It is also very important to fight corruption, wherever it may come from. We are totally against corruption, but political parties must also find ways to cooperate for the good of Albania. I think this is very important. We all have different political views, but the important part is to find what unites us, in order to move forward in the right direction, a direction that your country found 30 years ago. Therefore, it is important that Albania and the United States of America continue to work together on these issues.
A question about the situation in the Western Balkans. We are seeing a growing crisis in Bosnia, while Serbia and Kosovo have not yet reached a final agreement between the two countries. What can this region do to achieve the goal of membership in the European Union?
I think it is very important that Bosnia or Kosovo continue to cooperate with the United States of America. I am very familiar with Kosovo. My hometown Iowa is on a collaboration program between the Iowa National Guard and Kosovo. And by pursuing these collaborations, we can find a way forward. It is also important for Bosnia to respond to inappropriate influences coming from Russia or Serbia or other countries. But, it is very important that these countries continue to cooperate with the United States of America, in order to move forward. We will continue to cooperate through NATO and the United Nations will find a way forward with our allies in the Balkans
Ms. Ernst, thank you for the interview!
Thank you people for the great hospitality and for being an excellent partner of the United States of America.