In a statement to the media, the opposition leader the government of overseeing a criminalized economy dominated by drug cartels and said his party would continue its mission to expose what he called a “narco-state.”

“The State Department’s latest report openly describes an economic model that is in fact the model of a narco-economy,” Berisha said.

He claimed that foreign investment in Albania has dried up over the past decade.

“There are no foreign investments in Albania. For 10 years, you can count serious Western investors on one hand – they’ve been replaced by drug traffickers and their illicit money,” he said.

Berisha alleged that “drug cartel operatives now dominate the Albanian market and that high-level corruption has become systemic.”

“The report rightly speaks of widespread government corruption, judicial corruption, drug money, and the absence of foreign investment – all typical of a narco-state,” he said.

According to him, major international companies have left the country, citing this as further evidence of investor flight.

“Let me remind you that all major road infrastructure projects in Albania  were once built by internationally reputable firms. Global giants like Shell came to Albania, spending over EUR 1 billion in oil exploration around Shpirag and other areas. There were also real estate investments worth over EUR 1.5 billion, but all these companies eventually left, replaced by drug cartels,” he said.

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“US Commitment to Western Balkans in governance, rule of law, anti-corruption and anti-organized crime; regional integration, climate, energy; protecting against malign activities of Russia and China; defence cooperation; support for Albania in the European Union,” US Ambassador said.

“he United States is committed to supporting the countries of the Western Balkans on their path to European integration and membership in key European and Euro-Atlantic institutions,” US Department of State said in a statement.

“We welcome the progress made by Albania and North Macedonia on critical reforms and continue to support the opening of EU accession negotiations with both countries in June,” the statement reads.

“We are working with Western Balkan countries and our European partners to advance the governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption reforms – as well as the promotion of independent media and vibrant civil societies – that will reinforce the region’s European perspective and advance the long-standing goal of a Europe whole, free, and at peace,” State Department said in its statement.

The statement emphasizes that the US is committed to helping the countries of the Western Balkans deepen their own regional economic partnerships, achieve their climate goals, counter Russia’s energy coercion through diversification and clean energy development, and combat corruption and organized crime.  We also want to help the region grow and prosper while protecting strategic infrastructure and industries against China’s malign practices.

“The United States stands ready to support work towards a comprehensive, binding normalization agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on mutual recognition, that lays the foundations for lasting cooperation and prosperity.  We support the EU-facilitated Dialogue and encourage the parties to reengage in this process with a sense of urgency to address both technical and political issues.  We will work with Serbia and Kosovo to implement their Washington Commitments in support of the goal of full normalization,” US Department of State said in its statement.

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