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Butrint management, the letter of the former Albanian-American congressman to THE DASH: Big anomaly, you should intervene

2023-09-07 16:58:22Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Butrint management, the letter of the former Albanian-American congressman to
Joseph DioGuardi

In a letter sent to Assistant Secretary Michele J. Sison, Bureau of International Organizations Affairs, United States Department of State, former Albanian-American congressman Joseph DioGuardi, the topic of debate on the management of Butrint is up.

The letter titled "Return of the UNITED STATES to UNESCO and serious violation issues at the World Heritage Site of Butrint in Albania caused by an American entity" was published in Albanian by DITA newspaper.

Below, her full text:

"The Honorable Assistant Secretary Sison,
my name is Joseph J. DioGuardi and I am a former U.S. Congressman, as well as The President and Founder of the Albanian-American Civic League "AACL", a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen U.S.-Albanian relations.

Congratulations on the return of the United States to UNESCO. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement of the Biden administration and, as UNESCO Director General Dr. Audrey Azoulay stated, "with this return, UNESCO will be in an even more stable position to carry out its duties."

The U.S. return to UNESCO is particularly important in relation to Albania, where a U.S.-based foundation, the Albanian American Development Foundation "AADF", is trying to take possession of, control, manage and operate the Butrint National Park, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site of outstanding worldwide value since 1992.

AADF's efforts go far beyond the legal mandate of the organization and should be curtailed.

As you may be aware, AADF's parent corporation, the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund, was founded in 1996 in accordance with the 1989 Law on the Support of Democracy in Eastern Europe, known as the "SEED Law". As stated in the law, the purpose of this law was to promote "private sector development" and not to usurp the management and operation of the national parks of another sovereign country, even through the dubious support of local parties driven by personal interests.

AADF's regrettable actions regarding Butrint have sparked intrinsmic controversies in Albania and, instead of boosting the US reputation for its generosity, have fuelled suspicion and remorse. Furthermore, in addition to being in complete violation of U.S. law and policies, AADF's actions also fall in complete violation of the 1972 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage – the "Paris Convention"– regarding the sovereignty of States Parties.

As you know, in the U.S., the National Parks Service exercises the exclusive task of conserving, protecting, managing, using and controlling national parks, which are also world heritage sites. Our (American) model has significantly inspired the Paris Convention model, under which states Parties are "paramount" in exercising the duty to identify, protect, preserve, exhibit and transmit World Heritage Sites to future generations.

However, abusing the prestige and reputation of the United States, AADF has pressured the Albanian government to take over the possession, control, management and use of the World Heritage Site of Butrint.

As if that weren't enough, AADF is seriously damaging the integrity of the Butrint National Park. In other words, (I am spoiling) its "wholeness" and "intangible" by dividing the area and taking control of the priceless archaeological park, while the rest of the park is left under the current National Parks Authority of Albania.

In return, AADF has pledged to build a Visitor Centre at this site. One can imagine how we would feel in the United States if a foreign foundation offered to build a visitor center in Yellowstone National Park and in exchange for it to take full possession, control, use and management of the U.S. national treasure.

Of course, such a movement has met with fierce resistance in Albania.

For example, the President of the country vetoed the law allowing the AADF to manage Butrint; The deputy of Saranda County, where Butrint is located, has submitted legislation that would close the legal vacuum that enables such travesty; The Constitutional Court of Albania is currently considering this issue. /Day


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