“There are people who want to show the way to America, they will not succeed”, Alibeja: Belief in democracy will free us from the trap of corrupt politics

Among other things, Alibeaj said that the Democratic Party is clearer today than ever, that America that sealed the success of the country’s democratization movement in the early 1990s, and that only belief in the values ​​of democracy it represents, can pull Albania out of the trap of corrupt and failed transition policy.

Full word:
It is a special pleasure for all of you, as well as for me, to gather today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the relations between Albania and the United States of America.
To the dear friend, and to the guests, I convey the most cordial greetings on behalf of the Democratic Party, which appreciates without any hesitation the relations that Albania has with the USA.

The formal existence of the Albanian state was sealed on July 28, 1922, when Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes authorized the commissioner for Albania, Maxwell Blake, to hand over to Foreign Minister Pandeli Evangeli, the written notice of de jure recognition of Albania by the United States. In fact, the real recognition of Albania by the US, had happened long ago, when President Wilson opposed the partition of the Albanian state according to the agreements reached by other powers.

Well, the history of our state, which in the beginning was marked by the help and protection of the USA. After the dark night of 45 years of the communist dictatorship, the renewal of this relationship, among other things, coincides with the birth of the Democratic Party. Albania’s recent history with the US, in a way, is paralleled by the special relationship that the US has maintained with the Democratic Party.

Our relations are a clear expression of Albania’s western orientation. The DP itself since its inception is the major product of this conception between the US and the pro-Western worldview and orientation of Albanians.

The US approach to Albania can be summed up in one phrase: help and support. Assistance and support in every important step and sector. Help and support with tangible results. Open support and blunt words in any situation. Although we may at times be hurt by the moment, from the words bluntly we have come to realize that the help has been sincere. The US has helped us, by our side, in our challenges to overcome the transition, strengthen the rule of law and build the market economy. Every Albanian is a witness, and at the same time grateful, for all the help that the US has given us over the years.

Despite this, the approach of Albania and the DP in particular, towards the US, should also be summed up in one phrase: loyalty and gratitude. Loyalty and gratitude because the DP believes that assistance and support, given generously and kindly, brings Albania closer to the basic values ​​of a functioning democracy, the rule of law, human rights, human dignity and a functioning economy.

Loyalty and gratitude also require sincerity. To be honest, there have been unhealthy periods in the relations between Albania and the USA. There have also been cramps. The reason for these deadlocks has been mainly our inability to understand, sometimes even the refusal to accept, and then to implement in Albanian politics, the values ​​on which the rule of law, democracy and the power of the vote in the friendly country operate, in the US. The remnants of the communist dictatorship mentality, the corrupt rulers, those who have put their interest above that of the Albanians have been and remain the greatest threat to our partnership with the United States.

Even today there are still such. There are people who have lost their compass and want to show the way to America. They have lost their way in the yard and they want to lose their way to Albania as well. They will not succeed. They will not succeed because they are against the vast majority of Albanians and their history of over 100 years.
Albanians are aware, and also grateful, that from the partnership with the US, the big winners are the Albanians. We know that the US has always valued Albanian friendship, and it is no coincidence that Albanians are listed today as one of the most pro-American peoples. And this excellent relationship has borne fruit. In 100 years, the US gave Albanians 2 independent states. No Albanian national liberation movement has done as much for the US for Albania. The US has spoken, helped, donated and guaranteed freedom to Albanians, wherever they are, more than all national movements taken together. Among the latest is support for NATO membership. And we Albanians are grateful to the US for this support.

In such a relationship of partnership and appreciation in favor of Albanians, Albania and the Democratic Party have only one patriotic path: to continue to be on the side of the United States.
The Democratic Party is clearer today than ever, that America that sealed the success of the country’s democratization movement in the early 1990s, only the belief in the values ​​of democracy it represents, will be able to pull Albania out of the trap of corrupt politics and failed transitions. We must, we can and we will bring Albania out of the political, corrupt, chaotic, protracted transition, which is killing the hopes of Albanians every day, which is driving away young people and intellectuals, which is aging and shrinking the population in Albania. We will emerge from this transition. And this not only as hope. This will happen! As history has shown, this will also happen thanks to US support.

On behalf of the Democratic Party I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support given, with the belief that the future will be even better. For the Democratic Party there is no doubt that the US-Albania and US-PD partnership is a sacrifice and stems from the connection between the two peoples and as such remains untouchable for any administration at any time.
Thank you and enjoy this jubilee anniversary!

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