Albania–United States relations

Albania-United States relations are the international relations between Albania and the United States.

Embassies and consulates

Albania maintains an embassy in Washington, DC. USA maintains an embassy in Tirana.

Public sentiment

Pro-United States sentiment is widespread among the Albanian population.Fact|date=June 2008 Even while the U.S., which had closed its mission to Albania in 1946, was being vilified by communist propaganda during the regime of Enver Hoxha, ordinary Albanians remembered that Woodrow Wilson had protected Albanian independence in 1919. Albanians credit the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999 with saving thousands of Kosovar-Albanian lives,Fact|date=June 2008 and they greatly appreciate the U.S. Government's commitment to resolving the political status of Kosovo.Fact|date=June 2008

Treaties

In 2003, Albania and the U.S. signed and ratified a number of agreements, including a treaty on the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the promotion of defense and military relations; the Adriatic Charter; and an Agreement regarding the non-surrender of persons to the International Criminal Court. The U.S. strongly supports Albania's European Union and NATO membership goals. Working towards NATO membership, the U.S. and Albania signed a Supplementary Agreement to the Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement, an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing security, peace, and stability in the region.

Devlopmental aid

Since FY 1991, the U.S. has provided Albania with more than $616 million in assistance,Fact|date=June 2008 not counting Foreign Agricultural Service food aid. In 2007, the U.S. gave over $21.1 million to Albania under the Support for East European Democracy Act program. Albania was among the first countries selected to participate in the Threshold Program under the Millennium Challenge Account, winning a grant of $13.8 million.Fact|date=June 2008 In September 2006, Albania began implementation of the program, which targets corruption and rule of law.

War on terror

Albania has supported the U.S. in the global War on Terrorism by freezing terrorist assets, shutting down non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with possible links to terrorist financing, expelling extremists, and providing military and diplomatic support for the U.S.-led actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.Fact|date=June 2008 Albania has played a moderating role in the region and has fully supported UN mediation efforts in Kosovo.

References

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm#relations U.S.-ALBANIAN RELATIONS]

ee also