Transcript of VOA Albanian Service Interview with Stuart Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (October 30, 2008)

VOA: Mr. Jones, thank you for agreeing to this interview with VOA. A few days ago, President Bush signed Albania and Croatia’s NATO accession protocols – a very significant moment of praise for the country. How would you define relations between the U.S. and Albania and what are your expectations for the coming months?

Xhouns: Thank you. It is great to be here in Tirana. Thank you for making time for me. I attended the White House event, where the President signed the protocols. It was a very happy event, a very positive event. President Bush spoke with real emotion. He was obviously very pleased to be signing the protocols. This was the U.S. recognizing that Albania is now ready to join the NATO Alliance. We are just one NATO ally. The other allies are going through their own ratification process. But, for us as Americans, it was a chance for us to convey our support for Albania's membership which we are please to do. As you know, we have been one of Albania's strongest supporters. We are grateful for Albania's contributions to the Alliance already, with troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

VOA: You met yesterday with PM Berisha and the head of the opposition Mr. Edi Rama. I believe you received two very different views on the country’s progress. What were the issues raised in these meetings?

Xhouns: I did not hear different views about how the country is doing. I heard very similar views about how the country is doing. I heard, from both of them, real enthusiasm about the reforms that have been completed and also real enthusiasm for NATO membership. I also heard from them a consensus view on the way forward for Albania, which will focus on economic growth and support for independent institutions.

VOA: Relations between justice and politics have always been a problem for Albania. I believe you are aware of the fact that the issue is at the center of debates recently, especially because of clashes between the government and the Prosecutor’s Office, but also with representatives of the judiciary regarding a series of new laws drafted by the GOA. There have been criticizing statements by the EU countries ambassadors and also by U.S. Ambassador Withers about the situation. Is the State Department concerned about this situation?

Xhouns: The U.S. supports this evolution in Albania, the establishment of independent institutions, judicial and other institutions that will ensure economic and political growth. This is a natural evolution. The stresses between courts and political forces arise in every country. But the U.S. will continue to support the establishment of independent institutions – the Prosecutor General’s Office is an important one. Judicial independence is an important value in a democracy. As I said, this was a value expressed to me by PM Berisha yesterday and by Mr. Rama. I see this discussion, in which the U.S. is very proud to participate, as a very natural discussion, an important discussion, and leading Albania in the right direction.

VOA: With PM Berisha, you discussed in general, or the concrete debates going on here?

Xhouns: For those who have met your PM, he has an ability to speak in extreme detail. He went into a lot of detail about the situation, how he saw it, and what he was working toward, which is judicial independence. We did not talk about the problems per se, we talked about the shared value of judicial independence, independent institutions, Albania moving forward in its social and economic development, and being a valued member of the NATO Alliance and moving also toward European institutions.

VOA: I believe you are aware that in March of this year, there was an explosion at a munitions dismantling facility that led to the death of 26 Albanians. There is an on-going debate in Albania on it. The EU and the U.S. have pointed out that investigations on the issue should be taken to the very end. How much will the progress of this investigation influence the assessment of the State Department for Albania?

Xhouns: The U.S. supports the investigation, obviously. This is something that will run its course. All countries have issues like this. The important thing is to look into it, recognize who is responsible, and take the reforms necessary to avoid these incidents in the future. The U.S.-Albania relationship does not depend on individual issues like this. It is a much stronger relationship. But the Albanian people should know that the U.S. will support Albania as it goes through the course of this investigation and follows it to its logical conclusion.

VOA: In parallel with the incident, there was also a problematic contract of munitions sales from Albania to Afghanistan, through a contract between the Defense Ministry and an American company. It was made public by stories in the New York Times. There was also a U.S. Congress inquiry that also made accusations against the American Embassy here in Tirana. The State Department said it began its own internal investigation. Are those investigations over and what is their conclusion?

Xhouns: Thank you for allowing me to answer this question. Let me be clear: no charges have ever been leveled at the Embassy or any of the personnel of the Embassy. There are no criminal charges and no allegations of criminal conduct. The Waxman committee is pursuing its inquiry into the arms sale question and to any possible involvement in the Embassy. Just as we would expect the Albanian government to pursue the Gërdec incident investigation to its logical conclusion, we would expect the Waxman committee to do the same. When that investigation is completed and any other corollary investigations, I am confident the conclusion will be that this Embassy, from the Ambassador down to all personnel, were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing, representing the U.S. with distinction and building up the U.S.-Albanian bilateral relationship to the excellent state in which we find it.

VOA: One problem raised often for Albania is that of corruption. There have been also positive assessments, such as the Transparency International report. However, there is always the point that more should be done. In your opinion, what is the direction more should be done in?

Xhouns: In fighting corruption, wherever you are in the world, there is always going to be more that needs to be done. Corruption erodes at a nation’s not only the economy, but at the spirit, the confidence people have in their government and their society. So, all of us as public servants, have a fundamental duty to combat corruption. The USG is working with the GOA on a whole range of anti-corruption initiatives. Our USAID is working directly with the GOA on e-procurement and other high-tech techniques to combat corruption. I just got a briefing on some of these measures just today. Our team is very pleased with the receptivity from the Albanian counterparts for these programs. This will have a great impact here in Albania.

VOA: One last question, related not to Albania, but to Kosovo, the world’s newest country. The U.S. has given a lot of support to Kosovo’s independence. What do you think Kosovar leadership should focus on in the coming months?

Xhouns: We are very proud to be supportive of the new Republic of Kosovo. We can say there has been tremendous success in Kosovo since the February 17 declaration of independence. Lots of new legislation, implementing the Ahtisaari plan, a constitution that recognizes the fundamental rights of the entire population of Kosovo, with special protections for minorities. 51 countries have recognized Kosovo. So, the success that we have seen in the last months is tremendous. I commend the leaders of Kosovo and also the GOA for its support. The Durrës-Kukës highway being built between Albania and Kosovo will be a tremendous asset for the economic development of Kosovo. This is where I think we need to focus our energies, on the economic development of Kosovo. Some of the political challenges of course remain. But the real challenge now is creating jobs and economic activity in Kosovo.

VOA: Mr. Jones, thank you very much.

Xhouns: Thank you. It has been a pleasure.