The Albanian American Relations Council (AARC) held a meeting with Greek-American U.S. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, during which a number of issues related to the Western Balkans and the Albanian-American community were discussed.
The news was announced by AARC President Martin Vulaj, who stated that the meeting emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Kosovo and Greece, as well as the need to deepen cooperation between the two countries with the goal of achieving Greece’s formal recognition of Kosovo.
“One of the main topics of discussion was strengthening relations between Greece and Kosovo and encouraging closer cooperation that could eventually lead to Greece’s official recognition of Kosovo,” AARC said in a statement.
Representatives of the organization also raised concerns regarding the rights and status of Albanians in North Macedonia, highlighting the importance of continued U.S. engagement and monitoring of the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. The meeting also addressed the country’s student movement and its demands for institutional accountability.
According to the statement, Congresswoman Malliotakis showed particular interest in regional developments, asking questions about the most pro-American countries in the Balkans, Russian and Chinese influence, and the ways in which Serbia projects its influence throughout the region.
“We emphasized that Kosovo remains one of the most pro-American societies in the world, while Albania and Albanian communities in North Macedonia and Montenegro have consistently demonstrated strong support for the United States and the transatlantic alliance,” the statement added.
AARC representatives also discussed Serbia’s efforts to exert political, economic, media, and security influence across various countries in the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo.
The AARC delegation was led by Chairman Eli Rusi and included Vice Chairman Tony Marke, Secretary Burim Rexhaj, board members Agim Jusufi and Vehbi Bajrami, along with other supporters of the organization.
