Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA223
2008-03-21 17:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:  

ALBANIA: IN WAKE OF EXPLOSION, PRESIDENT TOPI

Tags:  PGOV PREL NATO AL 
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VZCZCXRO1633
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTI #0223 0811753
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211753Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6857
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000223 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: IN WAKE OF EXPLOSION, PRESIDENT TOPI
EMPHASIZES NATO AND CONTINUING WITH WEAPONS DESTRUCTION

REF: A. STATE 28947


B. TIRANA 213

C. TIRANA 212

D. TIRANA 199

Classified By: Ambassador John L. Withers II, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: IN WAKE OF EXPLOSION, PRESIDENT TOPI
EMPHASIZES NATO AND CONTINUING WITH WEAPONS DESTRUCTION

REF: A. STATE 28947


B. TIRANA 213

C. TIRANA 212

D. TIRANA 199

Classified By: Ambassador John L. Withers II, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Ambassador met President Topi on March 21 to deliver
the President's condolence letter (Ref A). Topi was touched
by the letter and noted in particular the last paragraph
emphasizing Albania's good record on ridding itself of excess
munitions and the importance of pressing forward with
destruction. Topi agreed and underscored the importance of
the long and successful partnership between the U.S. and
Albania, in particular on munitions destruction. We cannot
let one illicit partnership undermine the history of
successful partnerships, he emphasized. Topi said he had
urged Prime Minister Berisha to forget the political
infighting and concentrate on the victims in the wake of the
tragedy.


2. (C) Ambassador replied that the U.S. would remain
committed to helping Albania with munitions destruction. He
reiterated the message he had delivered to the PM and to
opposition leaders (Refs B, C). We support democracy in
action, and the outcry in the wake of the disaster is one
sign of a healthy democracy. Nonetheless, Albania's leaders
must think of themselves at the NATO table, with the same
rights and responsibilities as all other members. The
government should not be paralyzed. This is not the time for
boycotts and walk-outs. This is the time to come together
before tragedy, not to collapse under it.


3. (SBU) Topi went from his meeting with Ambassador to a
gathering of the National Security Council. He promised the
Ambassador that his opening remarks, which are public, would
reflect the need for the country to remain united behind
NATO. Indeed, Topi followed through, saying, "It would be
unpardonable to allow the historic process of our country's
Euro-Atlantic integration to be compromised by the
irresponsibility or illegal activity of any individual,
whoever it might be, of any corrupt official, or anyone
working against the national interests of Albania and the
Albanians. We must demonstrate to the international opinion
that Albania deserves NATO and Euro-Atlantic integration."
WITHERS