U.S. and Albania to Mend 50-Year Rift by Restoring Diplomatic Ties

The Bush Administration agreed Tuesday to restore diplomatic relations with Albania, Europe’s poorest country and for decades an isolated bastion of Stalinist orthodoxy, after a break of more than half a century.

Although Albania is ruled by one of Eastern Europe’s last surviving Communist governments, the State Department said that Washington is ready to send an American ambassador to help encourage political and economic reform. Albanian Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani will be in Washington on Friday for the formal resumption of diplomatic ties.

“We view establishment of diplomatic relations with Albania as an opportunity to support democratic reform in that country,” White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said.

“They still are a closed society but they have moderated their attitude,” he added. “There are some indications of democracy that we’d like to help foster.”

Leaders of the democratic opposition in Albania “have urged the United States to proceed with a resumption of relations as soon as possible in order to show our support for the process of reform,” said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

Boucher said that the Albanian authorities, who have scheduled the country’s first multiparty elections for March 31, realize that they must make substantial changes if the country is to survive.

The Administration criticized Albania last month for the arrest and harassment of anti-Communist agitators. At that time, Washington urged President Ramiz Alia to ensure fair elections.

The United States broke relations with Albania in 1939 after Benito Mussolini’s Italian Fascist armies occupied the country.