ALBANIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000875 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV AL SUBJECT: ALBANIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN ASIA, AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA Classified By: A/DCM PAUL POLETES FOR 1.4 (b) AND (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a December 9 meeting with Nuri Domi, the Director of the Department for Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Domi told Poloff that the Chinese continually pester the GOA to not accept any more Uighurs from Guantanamo Bay, and said that the GOA will formally open an Embassy in India next week. In the Middle East, PM Berisha will travel to Kuwait next week, and the Director said the GOA is politely refusing offers from Iran's "very active" Ambassador for increased assistance. Domi also labeled Egypt "confusing" and said the GOA plans to open missions in South Africa and Brazil in the coming year, the primary goal of which appear to be lobbying for recognition of Kosovo and securing economic assistance for Albania. End summary. ALBANIAN FOREIGN POLICY IN ASIA -------------- ¶2. (C) On December 9, Dr. Nuri Domi, Director of the Department of Asia, Africa, and Latin America at the MFA, painted a broad picture of Albania's foreign policy in these three regions. Starting in Asia, Domi emphasized how the Albanian Embassies in Asia are urging countries to recognize Kosovo's independence, noting that Malaysia and a few others have already recognized Kosovo. CHINA TO GOA: DO NOT ACCEPT ANY MORE UIGHURS -------------- ¶3. (C) Albanian-Chinese relations are also "very good," according to Domi, despite Chinese protests about Albania's decision to accept four Uighur NLECs from Guantanamo Bay in ¶2006. To Domi, this is a "closed issue" but he added that the Chinese occasionally bring it up. He said more recently the Chinese have been "bothering" him about not accepting any more detainees from Guantanamo should more be released. Domi emphasized that economic ties are the basis for Albania's relationship with China, adding that Albania imports a lot of goods from China because they tend to be cheap. NEW EMBASSY COMING TO INDIA -------------- ¶4. (C) The GOA is also planning to formally open an Embassy in India next week. Domi said FM Basha would travel to India for the formal opening. He expressed disappointment that India had not yet recognized Kosovo and made a vague reference to Russia for India's reluctance to make the decision. He said ties with India are in a developmental stage, but emphasized that Albania must have a strong relationship with such a large, democratic country. He said the Indians have expressed an interest in developing information technology in Albania. ¶5. (C) Japan is another key country for Albania and, interestingly, Japanese PM Taro Aso was a member of a Japanese-Albanian friendship society before becoming PM, according to Domi. As a result, since his election in September, Japan has sent four teams to Albania to provide assistance in health, education, and other fields. High level visits between the two countries will be forthcoming, according to Domi. WE DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY -------------- ¶6. (C) Moving West, Domi said that PM Berisha will visit Kuwait next week and added that the Saudi government has offered limited assistance to Albania, primarily in the form of mosque building. He praised the UAE for recognizing Kosovo and said his government is urging others in the region to follow suit. Regarding Iran, Domi said the Iranian Ambassador in Tirana is "very active" and is always urging Albania to accept more assistance from Tehran. However, Domi said that Albania cannot accept assistance from a country whose government talks about committing genocide. He said Iranian programs have been declining in Albania as the GOA is politely stalling any action or decisions on Iranian proposals. LIMITED REPRESENTATION IN AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) In Africa, the GOA has only an Embassy in Egypt, a country which Domi called "confusing," because he cannot understand why it has not recognized Kosovo. Domi said the MFA has plans to open an Embassy in South Africa and perhaps one more in Nigeria, noting that a few West African countries have recognized Kosovo. TIRANA 00000875 002 OF 002 ¶8. (C) The only Embassy in Central and South America is in Argentina, but the GOA plans to open another in the coming year in Brazil. The Embassy in Argentina largely supports the large Albanian contingent that moved there prior to the First World War. Domi also noted that Costa Rica was the first country to recognize Kosovo and he said the GOA would like to expand its presence in Central America with a particular focus on Mexico. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) Domi has a Ph.D in nuclear physics and made the transition to the diplomatic service about 12 years ago. He has previously served as the director of the European Bureau and is an unabashed supporter of the U.S. In each of these regions, recognition of Kosovo seems to be Albania's main goal and he frequently blamed Russia for some countries' reluctance to recognize it. Albania's foreign relations will naturally always be more Euro-centric, but it is interesting to see how Albania is expanding its diplomatic presence slowly but surely across the globe. WITHERS