In a video message, ambassador Kim says that it’s hard to believe that year 2021 is finally coming to an end.

It was certainly a year of tremendous challenge as the world continued to deal with CVID-19 and as Albania continued to rebuild from 2019 earthquake and faced floods and wildfires.

Despite these and other challenges, the United States and Albania not only celebrated 30 years of restoring diplomatic relations, but we made historic progress to strengthen democracy, expand our defense cooperation and increase mutual business opportunities.

The ambassador went on saying that we were proud to support you as move forward to implement justice reform. After lying dormant for three years, Constitutional Court began operating at the start of this year joining other elements of Albanian justice, SPAK and NBI. Thanks to their professionalism and commitment, we are beginning to see real positive results in the fight against corruption, organized crime and impunity. Justice reform has not been easy, quick or perfect, but it is moving forward, bringing Albania closer to your rightful place as a member of the EU and closer to the Unites States.

Citizens this year exercised their most basic democratic right, the right to vote in general elections. ODIHR report concluded that the electoral process has been conducted in an organized, transparent and smooth manner.

At the same time the report also noted serious deficiencies and irregularities and we look forward to supporting you in efforts to respond to recommendations of ODHIR.

This year Albania also hosted DEFENDER EUROPE 21, the largest US-led military exercise in the Western Balkans ever. Up to 6000 US soldiers, including 3 four-star generals came to Albania. Every single one of them left with the deepest appreciation for our partnership together as NATO allies.

Building on the Memorandum of Economic Cooperation we signed in 2020, this year we saw major US businesses came to Albania to launch the Skavica hydro-power plant and the Vlora power plant.

We are so excited about prospects for greater trade and investments between the US and Albania in the year ahead. There is much more work ahead for us to do together on democracy, defense and business. I hope that in reflecting on the past year we recognize how much progress we have made together. I hope we feel even more motivated to accomplish more in 2022 to make our countries fairer, stronger and more prosperous. \

On behalf of the US embassy, thank you for the great year together and Happy New Year.
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