Rama: Change region with open Balkans, we are US political base

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the United States of America, a milestone in a series of events over the months since the beginning of the year.

Under the “100 ʹ, together side by side”, which symbolizes the friendship between the American and Albanian people, was celebrated today in Tirana, the 100th anniversary of the vital bond of friendship and partnership, which, as it was said, passed through a history troubled by the Iron Age, to be restored stronger than ever.

The event where Albanian state leaders took part was mentioned and Kosovo and the irreplaceable role of the United States in the country's liberation and independence. While Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania is the US political base in the region, while the Open Balkans will change the region.

Albania's President Bajram Begaj said these 100 years confirm the determination to continue co-operation, in difficult and good times, at key moments in history, in security and peace challenges in the region and the world.

Thanks to the generous and unreserved support of the United States of America, Albanians today are a geopolitical factor in the Balkans. US support is invaluable to our national issue. With the same principles and the same determination Albania supported 100 years ago, Kosovo supported for its declaration of independence. I am faithful that Albania and America will continue to be steadfast friends and partners of progress. The close strategic partnership with the United States will find new spaces, while the friendship and excellent relations developed in these 100 years will continue to strengthen and improve even in the next hundreds of thousands of years”, Begaj said.

While Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that there are no anti-American or anti-American forces in Albania but only races for who loves Albania more. He said the Albanian state would not have today's achievements without support from the United States.

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Rama said Albania is the political base of the United States in the region and will exploit this relationship to change the region.

Rama here mentioned the open Balkans, which he said is a fully-concluded project with the United States.

And we are extremely privileged and I am very faithful that thanks to this relationship we will change the region. We will change the region once and for all. Of course, we will continue to face forces that want to protect both the Balkans and Kosovo from the U.S. issue, but we will continue to change the region and the Open Balkans that is a 100% agreed-on project and 100% supported by the United States, we will make it possible that the past that continues to be a threat today is true, never to be a threat to the Balkans again, but to be just a treasure of knowledge and lessons about how history should not be repeated” Rama came.

While US Ambassador Albania Yuri Kim said that on July 28, 1922, Albania and America lit a sacred torch that has been conveyed through generations and preserved by Albanians even during the dark days of communism.

Kim added that many things have changed in 100 years, but the United States has never wavered from confidence in an independent and sovereign Albania.

“We've never wavered from believers in you. We have never allowed ourselves to waver in our faith in our friendship. We were proud to back you when you broke off the bonds of communism in 1991. Pride that supported your application to join NATO in 2001. Proud of following your leadership at the top of O The SEU in 2020. The pride we hosted as a partner to the UN Security Council in January of this year. Proud to celebrate with you this month as you officially began negotiations to take your rightful place as a prosperous and democratic nation within the European family”, Kim said.

The president of the United States of America also addressed this one - message event. Joe Biden as well as former President George Bush, who is the first incumbent American president to have visited Albania.

As today a century ago, on July 28, 1922, official document announcing to the Albanian government arrived at Albania's Foreign Ministry that the United States recognises the Albanian government and that Maxwell Blake is named the first ambassador to Albania.