US Embassy in Albania announces suspension of funds

We remember that the US State Department, on January 24th, ordered freezing new funding for almost all US international aid programmes as part of President Donald Trump's effort to adapt these programmes to his foreign policy goals.

These programs are implemented mainly through the American Agency for International Development, USAID.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a message to American embassies worldwide clarifying the implementation of an executive order Trump signed on January 20th, saying that “no further international assistance from the United States will be distributed in a way that is not fully compatible with the foreign policy of the United States President”.

According to Trump executive order, current American assistance “is not in line with American interests and, in many cases, is contrary to American values”.

The funds are cut down until a second decision on institutions:

• - Finance Ministry, including Financial Intelligence Agency.
• - Interior Ministry, including Albanian State Police, Police Supervision Agency and Violence Co-ordination Centre.
• - Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry
• Ministry of Justice, including Directorate General of Prisons
• Defence Ministry
• Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Education and Sports
• Ministry of Tourism and Environment
• Ministry of Health and Social Management

• State Ministry for Youth and Children
• State Ministry for Local Power
• Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation
• The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, including the Albanian Electronic Corporation (KESH), Transmission System Operator (OST), Power Distribution Operator (OSHEE) and the Albanian Energy Exchange (ALPEX)
• State Ministry for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption
• State Ministry for Relations with Parliament
• Parliament, including its commissions
• High Judicial Council
• Prosecutor's High Council
• Constitutional Court
• Supreme Court
• All courts, including appeals courts, appellate administrative courts, first degree courts
• The Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Special Prosecutorial Building, including the Special Prosecutor and the National Bureau of Investigation
• First Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Court
• Special Court of Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime
• Attorney General's Office
• High Inspector of Justice
• Independent Qualification Commission, International Monitoring Operation and Special Appeal Room
• National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK)
• National Information Society Agency (AKSHI)
• State ministry and chief negotiator's office
• State Agency for Strategic Programming and Assistance Coordination (SASPAC)
• All Municipal Powers

The executive order requires a 90-day suspension of US international development assistance to assess efficiency and “compliance with the foreign policy of the United States”.

It affects new funding distributions for foreign countries, NGOs, international organisations and contractors, until the completion of programme revisions.

Trump and other republics had pledged that they would take measures against US international aid programmes, and Ruby's memo justified the freeze by saying it was impossible for the new administration to assess whether existing international aid commitments “are repeated, are effective and are in line with President Trump”'s foreign policy. /euronews