The United States charge d'affaires, Nancy VanHorn, stated today that the US will closely follow the process of selecting Altin Dumani's successor at the head of SPAK and expects it to be a transparent process free from external influences.
“SPAK is only as effective as its independence in pursuing criminals, regardless of who they are affiliated with. SPAK is also, of course, subject to the laws of Albania. Based on the law, Mr. Dumani, no matter how effective, extremely effective he has been, will be replaced because his mandate has ended. And the process of selecting Mr. Dumani’s successor must be impartial, transparent and free from external influences.
Those who want to see Albania continue the fight against crime and corruption, including international partners, are very interested in this process and will follow it closely. The United States expects integrity in the selection of the new Special Prosecutor; just as we expect integrity in the selection of the next Director of the BKH”, stated Vanhorn. According to the chargé d’affaires, SPAK is seen by the United States as a trusted partner.
“Our partnership with SPAK, built on a foundation of trust and engagement with our Department of Justice, demonstrates the impact of effective cooperation and coordination.
"So, as many of you know, Special Counsel Dumani was recently in Washington to discuss with our leadership how we fight crime together here and in the United States. And this law enforcement partnership between our Department of Justice and SPAK was not built overnight. And together, we must protect what we have built," she emphasized, adding that the fight against criminal organizations and drug trafficking is a priority for the United States.
