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| Ned Price in a press release (archive) |
In response to VOA's question about the allegations made by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha against Ambassador Yuri Kim that she is behaving like a governor in Albania and that she supports Prime Minister Edi Rama, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that "Washington is concerned about the unjustified attacks on our ambassador in Tirana. These ugly attacks do not represent the Albanian people.
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| State Department headquarters |
As instructed by Washington, spokesman Price points out that Ambassador Kim has clearly explained and implemented US policies, including President Biden's determination to hold accountable those who engage in corruption or undermine democracy, as Voice of America reports.
The United States, the spokesman further emphasizes, appreciates the relations with the Albanian people, and next year we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two countries. Our relations, the spokesman concludes, survived communism and dictatorship because of our common commitment to democracy and mutual respect.
Mr. Berisha's accusations
Former Prime Minister Berisha has opposed as "unfounded in facts and evidence" the decision of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to declare him person non-grata, telling his supporters that this is a political act taken under the influence of certain people. In the assembly he convened on December 11, he spoke of "an unprecedented, brutal intervention by diplomats and officials from a friendly country, the United States, attacking the US ambassador to Tirana, Yuri Kim: