British diplomat John Stewart Duncan stated that following the fall of communism in Albania, the notion of a “Greater Albania” was a significant concern for the international community.
“There was another aspect that I believe you understand—the idea of a Greater Albania worried the international community for some time. When Albania emerged from communism, this was one of the main concerns. They wanted to understand the relationship between Albania and Kosovo and its people. So, I had to focus on this aspect, speak with these individuals, and explain to my superiors whether this was a reality, whether it could happen, and if there were differences between Albanians in Albania and those in Kosovo,” said Duncan, as reported by Betimi për Drejtësi.
The former advisor to NATO Commander Wesley Clark added that he and his superiors were particularly interested in how Albanian society functioned after decades of isolation.
“This was a country closed off for 46 years, and I was very interested in how its society worked because that is the foundation of our duty as diplomats. We must explain to our superiors how a society functions, what is happening within it, how authorities influence it, and why sometimes it can be difficult to deal with them. That is the job of a diplomat—to explain all aspects of a society to the relevant superiors,” he emphasized.
