Remarks By U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers II at the Launch of the 2008 Corruption Perception and Experience Survey Conducted by IDRA and Funded by USAID (May 7, 2008)

Rector Kule, Dean Stringa, Distinguished guests,

I have spoken here in Albania on a number of issues. Most of them have been topics that make me very happy. Albania’s NATO invitation, the independence of Kosovo, even a little bit on Albanian culture and history. Today’s subject unfortunately is not one of those happy subjects; today’s subject is corruption.

Today we are releasing the findings of a USAID-funded survey, conducted by Director Pasha’s institution, on corruption in Albania. The survey tracks both the perception and experience of corruption by ordinary citizens. The news unfortunately is not good. According to the survey, 92% of Albanians says corruption is widespread among public officials and that is a decline of 8 points form a year ago. The report shows no progress in bribery indicators. Nearly 70% of people surveyed report paying a bribe for medical treatment. Nearly 60% have little or no trust in the judicial system. By a 3 to 1 margin, Albanians do not think the judges are impartial when conducting trials.

Director Pasha will give you more details and a full analysis of the report a bit later, so I will not go any further along those lines but these figures show that Albania has a serious corruption problem. Corruption affects all parts of Albanian society -- the economy, the potential for investment, Albania’s image abroad.

But I do not want to continue reciting numbers; I want to speak a little bit about how corruption affects ordinary people.  In my many many conversations with Albanians, not only here in Tirana but throughout the country, I have discovered that almost everyone has corruption stories to tell me. Let me give you just a few examples.

One told me of little children who were just learning their ABCs, their alphabet, being told the day before the Teachers Day, and I quote, “Tell your parents I do not want flowers tomorrow!” What kind of lesson is that for a seven year old child? What does that teach to a seven year old? What mindset is given to that seven year old for the future?

Several people told me about doctors who do not look at the patient’s medical record or even record the visit in the official register. Instead, the doctor asks the patient detailed questions about the income and their financial status. If the answer showed that the patient is poor, that patient gets no medical treatment. If the patient is well-to-do, the doctor starts calculating how high a fee he can get away with.

Many people have told me about their difficulties about getting basic documents like a driver’s license or birth certificates or property registration. They tell me how they have to wait hours or sometimes days or even weeks to get these basic documents for themselves unless they are willing to hand over 200, 500, 1000 leks or more in which case they go to the front of the line.

People expressed great frustration over the fact that the police will announce with great fanfare a serious corruption case against senior officials but then weeks pass, months pass, the charges are reduced, somehow the case goes away, somehow none is punished. Now let me be very very clear: corruption is not only an Albanian problem; corruption exists everywhere. There is a great deal of corruption in my own country, in the United States, and you can pick up any paper in the country and you can see reports of that corruption. But the critical ingredient is not that corruption exists, it is how we respond to corruption.

One of the things that I find troubling is that many times when I am speaking to my Albanian friends and I ask, “You told me all these stories about corruption. What should be done about it” and they reply by shrugging their shoulders and reply, “Mister Ambassador, this is not the U.S.; this is Albania.”

I do not accept that answer.

Albanians value honesty as much as any people in the world and as much as any people that I know. Albanians hate corruption. They hate the fact that the few who are corrupt spoil it for the many who are not.

And I particularly do not like the implication in that answer which implies that corruption is a symptom of Albanian culture; it is not. Anyone who knows the Albanian people knows that it is a violation of the ethical and moral code that Albanians have.

Albanian culture places honesty and integrity above all else. For Albanians, a promise given is a promise kept. And the principle of Besa, the quintessential Albanian virtue, is a bond that cannot be broken. So, I repeat, anyone who implies that corruption is natural to Albania is wrong; corruption is a violation of what it means to be Albanian.

So, what is to be done?

Let me talk about two particular topics. The first, addressing corruption is a high level responsibility. The political elite of this country must take charge in fighting corruption in a meaningful way not just through speeches and words. And when I say the political elite, let me be clear: I am not pointing at the government, or the opposition or any particular political party or individual; all of the political elite must take responsibility. And that means that political leaders must expose acts of corruption even by their colleagues.

They must not use influence to protect friends or relatives and they must not use political power to change the course of justice. The political elite of Albania should lead by example. One important straightforward step that can be done is to change the immunity law, which protects senior officials in courts, in Parliament and in other offices from prosecution. They should be as liable to prosecution as any Albanian citizen. Put another way, none should be immune from prosecution or illegal acts.

And the political leadership of Albania should empower the institutions that seek justice; empower the prosecutors who go after the criminals; and, should make clear that whoever the suspect is, regardless of wealth, regardless of family ties, regardless of political connections, is subject to prosecution.

Let me cite one case as an example of what I mean: I was very pleased that in the most recent the Human Rights report, the HRR for 2007, there were no reports of violence against journalists. However, the day before the report was released, a member of parliament Tom Doshi, beat a journalist for asking tough questions. Next year’s human rights report will not give Albania a passing mark in that category. An investigation into the case has been promised but no further word has been forthcoming.

I cannot judge whether Mr. Doshi was guilty or innocent in what he did but my question is will there be a fair hearing? And I also ask the question: What is the media doing? The media has an important role, particularly in protecting one of its own. As far as I am aware no newspaper reported this incident until days after it occurred; my question is: are they following it now? And is it not their duty to be following up?

The second theme that I would like to discuss is public responsibility. And by that I mean citizens who see corruption or victims of corruption, protesting it, criticizing it, exposing the incidents of corruption, demanding more of the leadership to do something about corruption.  The professions can police their own; the professions can assist in eliminating corruption from within the profession.

For example, if nothing happens to the doctor who takes bribes, the names of hundreds of doctors who save lives is smeared.

If nothing happens to the judge who drives a 30,000 Euro Touareg, the names of judges who issue fair and just decision every day, is smeared.

If nothing happens to the police officers who tip criminals of upcoming police raids, the whole 15,000 police officers force is smeared and weakened.

If nothing happens to the official who one day wakes up rich, the entire public administration is smeared and weakened.

I do not accept the answer that there is nothing that can be done about corruption.

None can convince me that what are called “të fortë” in this country are more powerful than the thousands of parents who want decent education for their children or for young people like yourselves who want to live here in a free, open, and honest society. If people take charge, good things happen.

I heard the story of a hospital administrator in a northern city who learned that the nurses were demanding bribes to tell patients where the doctors’ offices were located. She simply put up signs showing the way to the Doctors’ office and that reduced the bribes.

I heard of one agency that issues a certain documents that ended the problem of people jumping the queue through payment of a bribe by setting up an appointment system: a person arrived at a certain time, met a relevant officer, and paid no bribes.

What is the importance of a citizen taking responsibility – let me read a quote by a very respected Albanian Anton Harapi who said this before he was executed in 1947 – “Do you know that the foundations of a building are laid in the ground? Even though buried we have to be the foundation of the building we call Albania.”

Ladies and gentlemen, corruption is not a game; it is a war.

There is one and only one reason for the words I told you today: and that is because I know you can win that war, because my government wants you to win that war and because every Albanian wants to win.

Thank you very much.

US Department of State and Albania’s MOD Agree to Begin Gërdec Munitions Cleanup (May 2, 2008)

Today Minister of Defense Gazmend Oketa and Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Cristina signed an agreement that will allow U.S. Department of State contractor ArmorGroup North America (AGNA) to begin the slow and dangerous process of removing live munitions from the Gërdec blast area.

To date, the USG has sponsored the destruction of thousands of tons of decaying munitions left over from Albania's communist era at a cost of over $55 million.  Much more needs to be done as quickly as possible to prevent another catastrophe.  The USG will continue to work with the GOA, other governments, and international organizations to rid Albania of these dangers and make the country safe for its citizens and visitors.

AGNA has engaged UK company EOD Solutions, which will coordinate work of its own employees and specialized teams of explosive ordnance disposal experts from the Albanian Armed Forces.  EOD Solutions has worked on demilitarization projects in Albania for over nine years.  Observing the highest safety standards and working with NATO specifications wherever possible, EOD Solutions has demilitarized over 3,000 tons of munitions and 120,000 weapons without a single accident.

The process of clearing the Security Exclusion Zone (SEZ), an area approximately 300 meters around the blast craters, will be slow and difficult.  Even when performed to the highest standards, by skilled professionals, it is inherently dangerous.  Since multiple explosions have scattered different kinds of munitions (both fuzed and unfuzed), propellant, and explosive material in a wide area, AGNA will first clear the surface of munitions.  Unfuzed munitions will be demilitarized in one of three MOD munitions factories by trained specialists.  Fuzed munitions, fuzes, and unfuzed munitions judged too dangerous to move will be destroyed in a safe area near the blast zone.  Once the surface ordnance has been removed, the operation will switch to a process similar to mine-clearing.  AGNA will use metal detectors to find munitions.  Once found, workers must carefully dig down to the source, which could be a simple piece of scrap metal, an unfuzed shell, or a fuzed weapon which could explode with the slightest provocation.  The process of clearing the SEZ could take up to three years.

While the process will be performed under the highest safety standards possible, there is always a risk involved in dealing with explosives. Experts from the USG and other organizations, such as the Albanian Mine Action Executive and DanChurchAid, consider that both the SEZ and the area immediately outside it up to 800 meters poses serious risks to the inhabitants and livestock:  explosions, potential contamination of soil and water, and hidden structural damage from the March 15 explosions; we strongly urge displaced residents of this area not to return until it is judged safe. 

U.S. and Albanian Law Enforcement Agencies Collaborate to Capture Albanian Fugitive (April 15, 2008) 

Criminal Investigators from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. State Department returned Albanian fugitive and former Albanian State Police Officer Lorenc Balliu to Tirana.  Such action could not have been made possible without the assistance of INTERPOL Tirana. 

In 2003 an Albanian Court convicted former police officer Balliu of murder. The court established that on January 3, 2003 Balliu took part in the physical beating of an individual during a police interrogation. The victim subsequently died because of the injuries sustained.  Balliu will serve a 16-year imprisonment sentence.

U.S. Embassy Statement on the Role of ATF (April 11, 2008)

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the primary U.S. Federal agency for the investigation of explosives incidents and the enforcement of explosives laws and explosives industry regulations.

Since 1978, ATF has had a national and international response capability to investigate significant explosions and fires. This capability, the National Response Team (NRT) and International Response Team (IRT), consists of teams that respond anywhere in the U.S., and, through the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, respond to assist foreign governments with investigations overseas.
 
The teams are each composed of veteran special agents, forensic chemists, bomb technicians, and fire protection and electrical engineers with explosion and fire origin and cause expertise. The teams work alongside local investigators in reconstructing the scene, identifying the origin and cause of the explosion or fire, conducting interviews, and sifting through debris to obtain evidence related to the explosion or fire.
 
The NRT has been activated for all major explosives and fire incidents in the United States. Examples include the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing, the TWA Flight 800 explosion, and the 9/11 World Trade Center and Pentagon crash sites.  There have been 31 IRT deployments.  Recent IRT deployments include responses to requests by Paraguay, Grenada, Suriname, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic involving serious incidents with numerous fatalities.
 
All members of the team deployed to Albania for the Gerdec post blast investigation have extensive expertise in explosion post blast and fire origin and cause.
 
The six team members have previously been deployed to the Oklahoma City bombing, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing, the TWA Flight 800 explosion, the 9/11 crash sites, and numerous explosion incidents involving multiple fatalities at ammunition and explosive manufacturing and storage facilities in the U.S. and Europe.

It is a real honor and a privilege to be with all of you today. I have been talking with my colleagues and I know what a distinguished group this is and what an important seminar this will be.

I am particularly happy to be with you today at this time of celebration of Albania's invitation into the NATO Alliance. I believe that this was an important, indeed an historic decision, and Albania will now enter a new era of its goals to integrate into the European and Atlantic community.

Part of this new era, however, is that NATO and NATO membership comes with new obligations, not just military ones.

Foremost among these is the establishment of a fair and just judicial system, one where criminals are brought to justice without the intrusion of political influence.

All of you, all of you here in this room, prosecutors and police, are an absolutely essential part of that system. You in this room are the ones who bring corrupt public officials to justice; the ones who find the money launderers and put them in prison; the ones who confiscate money and assets from the criminals who bought them with money earned from trafficking in drugs, weapons, and humans.  You are the ones who follow the money and find the truth.

I want to emphasize that I am here to tell you that we support you wholeheartedly in your efforts, and will continue to so, especially through our OPDAT and ICITAP programs.  I am especially happy to welcome today the new OPDAT anti-corruption Resident Legal Advisor, Ms. Cindy Eldridge, who will be embedded in the Tirana Joint Investigative Unit (JIU) to Fight Economic Crime and Corruption and work closely with many of you.

Our USAID Rule of Law project also is designed to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of the court system.

Before the Albanian justice system today is a very important investigation of the Gërdec tragedy. And I want to express my full support for a complete, thorough, and impartial investigation of the Gërdec explosion.  It should lead wherever the evidence takes it, no matter where that evidence leads or who is involved. Only this will restore public trust in Albania’s institutions of justice. 

As the Prosecutor's Office investigates this incident for evidence of wrongdoing, I hope it encounters no political interference of any kind.  I further hope that the court procedures be rigorous and that whatever sentences might be handed down by Albanian courts would be commensurate with the crimes, regardless of the political status or connections of the criminals.

I believe that we are all most fortunate to have Prosecutor General, Ina Rama, leading this investigation. Madam Prosecutor General, I have full confidence in your leadership and guidance of this investigation. Pursuant to your request, six U.S. federal criminal investigative ATF agents who are experts in investigations of explosions arrived yesterday to assist the police and prosecutors of the Gërdec investigation team.

The U.S. is providing assistance for the Gërdec tragedy in a number of other ways, which are listed in detail in a press release that we will soon make available. They include humanitarian aid from USAID and military experts from the U.S. Military’s European Command (EUCOM).

EUCOM has sent a team of experts in explosive ordnance, hazardous materials, environmental analysis and forensic science.  The team is examining the site of the Gërdec tragedy daily and offering their advice to Albanian authorities.

Albania is a friend and now NATO ally of the U.S. and we are proud to offer this assistance in the wake of this tragedy.  However, we are very concerned about the management of the site.  Our experts have advised the government that there are safety issues that could lead to additional injuries, if changes are not made.  Specifically, the area is still full of unexploded ammunition, much of it just below the surface, and most of the homes in the blast zone suffered serious structural damage.   There are also unknown environmental risks that still must be analyzed.

I therefore caution against local residents being permitted to move back into their homes prematurely.  I sympathize with the residents, who are understandably anxious to resume their normal lives.  However, returning too soon is inviting serious risks for people who have already suffered too much.  We ask the Albanian authorities to counsel patience until a full site clean up has been completed and reconstruction of damaged homes is complete.

In closing, I would like to say that this seminar occurs at very historic and very exciting times for Albania and for the relationship between Albania and America. This seminar is an example of this deep cooperation and friendship. Together, all of you will do important work for your country and for mine.

I want to thank Prosecutor General Rama for inviting me here today and I hope that my presence underscores how important we feel this seminar is.

I wish you all an excellent and successful seminar, and I look forward to hearing news of more successful investigations and prosecutions of corruption and financial crime.

• Within three hours of the explosion, the Embassy provided $1,000 of needed medical supplies to Albania’s military hospital trauma center, purchased through USAID funding.

• Additionally, USAID has provided $50,000 for emergency food and non-food items for displaced families.  The Albanian Red Cross will deliver these commodities to victims over the next two months.

• American crisis management experts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Center for Civil-Military Relations consulted closely with the Ministry of Interior Crisis Management Center.

• A ten-person team of US Army personnel with extensive experience in EOD/demolitions, environmental safety, hazardous materials, reconstruction, and mortuary affairs provided assistance to the MoD at the explosion site, and helped coordinate the operations on location.

• The European Command sent an assessment team of highly-trained experts in weapons destruction to determine what additional assets may be provided. 

• The New Jersey National Guard has sent three experts to assess assistance needs in advance of sending a team of disaster relief specialists. 

• An American contractor funded by the USG will arrive next week to assess the explosion site before beginning the task of clearing unexploded ordnance in the core area.

• The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will send six bomb specialists to assist the Albanian Prosecutor General’s Office in the post blast investigation at Gerdec.  This team will provide assistance in determining the origin and cause of the explosion.

• U.S. Embassy Albanian and American employees and their families also contributed by collecting of over $3,000 to purchase food, hygiene items and other needed supplies and goods.  They personally donated foodstuffs, clothing, childcare items, toys, and their time to the relief effort.

• We continue to explore with the Government of Albania what additional assistance may be needed and will seek to provide this assistance as requested.  

Statement by U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers After the NATO Invitation to Albania (April 3, 2008)

Today is a day of joy, both for Albania and for the United States. It is a day of historic significance for both Albanians and Americans.

Today, Albania, along with Croatia, received an invitation to the NATO Alliance. As President Bush said earlier today, Albania will make an outstanding member of this Alliance.

I am here today to extend my congratulations to Albania and to the Albanian people; and not only from myself, but also on behalf of my government and the American people.

Today, we, the American people, among the other members of the Alliance, ask you, the Albanian people, into the most important foreign policy Alliance in our history. This was the Alliance that was our pillar of security throughout the Cold War, when nuclear confrontation threatened. This is an Alliance that, in extremity, commits us to aid you with the lives of our soldiers.

As President Harry Truman said, in 1949, at the foundation of the NATO Alliance, "The security and welfare of each member of this community depend upon the security and welfare of all. None of us alone can achieve economic prosperity or military security. None of us alone can assure the continuance of freedom."

But Albania's invitation to NATO was not really our doing. This invitation was not a matter of luck or geographic location. It was not a matter of geopolitical calculation. This invitation, pure and simple, is a triumph of the Albanian people. Not of one party or another, but of all Albanians, of all parties, working and sacrificing together. It is one of the most important commitments that we can make to the Albanian people. And it recognizes the commitment of all Albanians to democracy, the rule of law, a better future for the country, after the dark night of communism.

A well-known Albanian poetess, capturing something of the spirit of the historical achievement that Albania has made today, wrote the following lines:

We had much to throw off
We had much to pick up
Suddenly, out of the darkness
A new day dawned.

Nine years ago, during the first NATO expansion, President Clinton said to the then-invitees, "Welcome home to the community of freedom."

Today, I say to you, "Mirëse erdhe, Shqipëri."

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Remarks by U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers II NATO Ambassadors – SP Leadership Round Table on Bucharest Summit (March 28, 2008)
 
Thank you very much for those very thoughtful and insightful remarks. I would also like to thank you for convening Ambassadors who represent the NATO countries here today. I think I can say on behalf of all us that it is very important for us to have as deep an understanding of Albania’s aspirations as possible and your speech with its deep and thoughtful words assist all of us for a greater understanding.
 
We gather here today at a time of sorrow for you and for the Albanian people. The tragedy at Gerdec affects everyone in this country and I can say that it affects all of us here, your friends. And we all share your desire to get to the bottom of that incident. We are also all aware here that as a result of that incident, that we are gathered in a time of political controversy; you have made reference to that in your speech. We are aware that that controversy places special pressures and special burdens particularly on those parties, those political parties that stand in opposition at this moment. Your constituencies, naturally enough will be seeking action. And they will be looking to you for that action and for it to take place immediately.
 
That you are able to keep those pressures and those calls for action in perspective, in light of the coming Bucharest Summit, and the important decision that it will make for NATO enlargement is a great tribute to you and to your leadership in the Albanian State. I take it as an act of political courage that you are able to maintain that perspective at this complicated moment. But not only an act of political courage but as an act of statesmanship.
 
To put the national objective of Albania and the Albanian people first is a great tribute to you and I salute you for it.
 
You would be aware that just yesterday President Bush stated his support for inviting all of the members of the A3 at the Bucharest Summit. That is a long standing position of my government and we hope that it will be successful in a few days time. But in reaching that position my government is very well aware of your role and the role of the opposition parties in strengthening your case for an invitation at the Bucharest Summit.
 
Should that invitation come, and we hope it will, my government will not see that invitation as the result of efforts of any one particular group but as an achievement of Albania’s political leadership as a whole and as a success of the Albanian people as a whole. I thank you all very much for your attention.

U.S. Embassy Statement on Southern Ammunition Company (SAC) March 19, 2008
 
In the aftermath of the Gërdec explosions, the U.S. Embassy learned of the existence of the American company, Southern Ammunition Company, Inc. (SAC) of South Carolina.  It is our understanding that the Prosecutor General’s Office as part of its investigation will look into SAC’s possible role in the tragedy.  The U.S. Embassy will do everything in its power to assist the Prosecutor General’s investigation.

U.S. Embassy Statement on Gërdec Explosions (March 17, 2008)

The U.S. Embassy first takes the opportunity to extend its sincere condolences and support to the Albanian people, especially the victims, their families, and those who have been affected directly by Saturday’s tragedy in Gërdec.  Our hearts and sympathy are with you.

The U.S. Embassy has provided or coordinated the following assistance since the explosions occurred:

·        Within three hours of the explosion, the Embassy provided $1,000 of needed medical supplies to Albania’s military hospital trauma center, purchased through USAID funding.     

·        American crisis management experts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Navy are consulting closely with the Ministry of Interior Crisis Management Center

·        A ten-person team of retired US Army Special Forces personnel with extensive experience in EOD/demolitions and emergency medical and operational support provided assistance to the MoD at the explosion site, assisting to establish the Operations Center, media center and field hospital and helping to coordinate the operations on location.

·        The European Command has tasked its naval component to send an assessment team consisting of highly-trained experts in weapons destruction to determine what additional assets may be provided.

·        We are exploring with the Government of Albania what additional assistance may be needed and will seek to provide additional assistance as requested.

We note that some news agencies have mistakenly reported that a U.S. Government-sponsored munitions disposal project was underway at the depot that suffered several explosions on March 15.  We would like to clarify that the U.S. Government has not assisted the Ministry of Defense with munitions disposal at that particular storage facility.  Although the U.S. Government has partnered successfully with the Albanian Government on several munitions disposal projects previously, there are currently no such joint projects underway in Albania.  We understand from a March 15 government statement that the GOA had contracted with a private American company, Southern Ammunition Company, Inc. (SACI) of South Carolina, to assist with munitions disassembly at the depot.  The contract is not sponsored by the U.S. Government.

We wish to reiterate our concern and sympathies for all those affected
by this tragic incident.