During a statement for the “Voice of America”, the Deputy U.S Secretary of State for Europe, Matthew Palmer stated that public declaration of foreign personalities from the US Secretary of State, for involvement in corruption is one of the methods that the US uses to fight corruption. When asked regarding the time of the announcement for the former president Sali Berisha, Palmer said that the time of the announcement isn’t of particular importance.
“I wouldn’t attach any importance to the moment, but what is important is the seriousness, through which the U.S fights the issue of public corruption. This is a testimony of our commitment to use any instruments available to us, including sanctions if needed, with the goal of strengthening the war against public corruption and to make sure that there is accountability for those that abuse the public’s trust,” said Palmer.
Palmer also added that the former PM Berisha abused his power and the public’s trust in order to make himself and his family members richer, as well as his political allies and supporters.
“The United States take the issue of public corruption very seriously,” said Palmer.
The Deputy Secretary of State said that this is one of the instruments that the US uses to fight public corruption.
VOA’s journalist, Menada Zaimi gave Euronews Albania some further details regarding the declaration of Sali Berisha persona non-grata by the U.S Secretary of State. She said that this constitutes an administrative and political decision of the American government, when the latter considers that the level of corruption has reached significant levels for a high governmental official.
“This is a right that the US Congress grants to the Secretary of State, it is a mechanism that is granted to them, in order to react in major cases of corruption,” said Zaimi.
Meanada Zaimi emphasized that 70% of cases have been punished by the US with the ‘non grata’ declaration because of violation of human rights whereas 30% because of major corruption.
Zaimi pointed out that the cost for former PM Berisha in this case is only linked to him being banned from entering the US. However, she mentioned that the US ambassador, Yuri Kim has emphasized the importance of personalities being declared non-grate by the US, to not get involved in political roles.
Zaimi concluded her statement by saying that yesterday’s act shows the continued involvement of the US in fighting corruption and punishing those people that the US believes to have been involved in corruptive affairs.
