By Dash Frashëri, publisher of TiranaDiplomat.com

“Yuri Kim, the star of Albanian television!”

This is how I can consider the American ambassador, now at the end of her term.

Almost every day in various television chronicles, thanks to a very busy agenda of official activities, invitations from various organizations to national and international meetings.

Yuri Kim knows well the power of communication through television, interviews with the most influential journalists in the country, both on state and private television.

Ambassador Kim knows Albania very well. Her achievements and problems. She told him directly, as a diplomat, but also as a benefactor of the “country of eagles”, which she loves very much and has won the love of ordinary people, including me.

A diplomat who has won the hearts of Albanians, for her approach and strong reactions to the problems that the country is going through, but also as a great promoter of tourism Albania.

However, through television interviews, she wanted to paint her portrait.

***

When Yuri Kim was sworn in, on January 10, 2020, as the new ambassador of Albania, succeeding a charismatic chief diplomat like Donald Lu, it was clear that the relationship with the mass media in general and television in particular would serve not only to convey the messages of the United States of America, but would simultaneously build its profile in the eyes of the Albanians.

Yuri Kim is the 17th ambassador of the United States to Albania, since August 10, 1922, when Maxwell Black was appointed as envoy extraordinary. With the re-establishment of diplomatic relations on 15 March 1991, it was Christopher Hill (Charge-Charge, for the opening of the embassy), before being succeeded by Ambassador William Ryerson. Kim is the third US ambassador, after Marisa Lino and Marcie Ries.

“I feel honored and very pleased to be in Albania and I am ready to get down to work”, wrote the ambassador of the United States of America, Yuri Kim, on January 23, 2020.

On February 7, 2020, the US embassy published this message: “Let’s welcome our Ambassador Yuri Kim to Twitter! Follow @USAmbAlbania on Twitter and share your thoughts and ideas with her!”

After completing the ritual of presenting Credentials to the President of the Republic of Albania (Ilir Meta), Yuri Kim started a “diplomatic tour” of meetings with the highest authorities of the Albanian Executive, people of justice, the media, etc.

As a great lover of the USA, an ardent fan of Ambassador Yuri Kim, whom I highly appreciate, and moreover a regular follower of the official website of the Embassy, by conducting a search I also collected photos from interviews conducted by Kim and posted on the website of the embassy.

In addition to interviews on the home television, “Voice of America”, where she conducted various interviews with Ilirjan Agolli and Pëllumb Sulo, she had on her agenda some of the most influential televisions in the country.

With Ilirjan Agolli, “Voice of America”‘s journalist (November 10, 2020 and September 16, 2021)

With Pëlumb Sulo, “Voice of America”‘s journalist (April 5, 2023)

******

BLENDI FEVZIU – The host of the “Opinion” show, Blendi Fevziu, is the journalist who has interviewed Ambassador Yuri Kim many times during her more than three-year stay in Albania. Here are some.

SOKOL BALLA – Even with the journalist Sokol Balla, Ambassador Yuri Kim conducted several interviews, such as on Top Channel, Vizion Plus or Report TV. Here are some.

LUTFI DERVISHI – With the well-known journalist, Lutfi Dervishi, Yuri Kim has a special relationship, as he knows him very well, even outside the journalistic sphere.

The American chief diplomat has conducted interviews on almost all important televisions in Albania.

With Blendi Salaj of A2 News CNN (June 9, 2020)

With Ilva Tare of Euronews Albania (May 13, 2020)

With Erla Mëhilli from Euronews Albania (January 19, 2021)

With Anila Hoxha of Top Channel (November 10, 2021)

With Bieta Sulon of Top Channel (March 7, 2023)

The American ambassador has also held numerous virtual conversations, to get to know an Albania different from the protocol one, to get to know even more deeply and in a wider spectrum the often complicated and complex Albanian reality.

For a US ambassador – especially in a pro-American country like Albania – the request for a television interview is frequent, and often insistent. This is not necessarily because of the impact of their statements, but also as a sign of hospitality from a valued friend.

The “Besa” code of television hospitality towards Yuri has been the symbol of the perfect tandem “Kim – TV”.

The ambassador of the most powerful country in the world, the most important strategic partner for Albanians, has been able to manage countless invitations, not even rejecting well-known journalists from a state television or large private television, while respecting young journalists from a national media or local, showing what American diplomats have in their DNA. Respect!

Kim showed in her interviews an Albania that makes progress, that knows how to face economic, geopolitical, regional or international challenges.

An Albania that has a great friend: the USA!

Tirana, on April 18, 2023