Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar is visiting Albania and spoke about the situation in the Albanian Democratic Party. Supporters of former Chairman Sali Berisha will hold tomorrow an extraordinary National Assembly to discuss changes to the Party Statute, whereas incumbent Chairman Lulzim Basha has called for the Assembly one week later. Earlier, Basha rejected the idea of an extraordinary Assembly, saying it would be anti-Americna. Basha has insisted the Democratic Party will not have the support of the United States if it does not dissociate with Berisha, but Escobar had a different opinion when asked by Albanian journalist Sokol Balla in his interview for the television News 24.

“Our relationship is a mature one between NATO allies. It’s not up to us to choose your leaders, but I would invite your people to choose wisely which leader they will elect, which road they wish Albania to follow. We hope the answer will be a road with European focus, dedicated to NATO, and fight against corruption”, Escobar said.