The American Senate today approved the candidacy of diplomat David Kontelancik to be the ambassador of the United States of America to Albania.
Kostelancik will replace the current ambassador to Albania, Yuri Kim.
A few weeks ago, he presented his prorities as an ambassador, to the Committee on Foreign Relations in the United States Senate, during the confirmation hearing.
“If I am confirmed in this position, I will cooperate with Albania to strengthen democratic institutions and justice institutions. President Joe Biden has defined the fight against corruption and organized crimes as part of our national strategy. This is a major challenge for the countries of the Western Balkans”, said Kostelancik. The progress of the justice reform will help Albania’s progress towards European integration, he emphasized.
One of the sectors of close cooperation between the two countries, will be the further strengthening of the defense partnership, said the appointed ambassador.
Iran’s cybers attack on Albania in 2022 demonstrated the need for it to invest in infrastructure and training to build a sustainable cyber system. The United States, he said, has sent experts to Albania to repair the damage done and has offered 50 million dollars for this purpose.
A third priority, he emphasized, will be to strength the business climate. The interests of the United States are served through a transparent market in Albania.
Kostelancik has served in Albania even before in the period 1992-1994, as the first representative for political and economic issues in the newly opened American embassy in Tirana. Prior to his appointment as ambassador, he served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the US Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley.
Kostelancik is a diplomat with a 30-year career. He has served twice in the USA Embassy in Moscow, in the USA missions in OSCE and NATO and in Ankara, Turkey.
Diplomat Kostelancik, originally from the state of Illinois, is graduated in the Northwestern University. He speaks Russian, Hungarian, Albanian and Turkish.
