Paolo Zampolli, introduced as President Trump’s special envoy to the Balkans for Global Partnerships, emerged from the Bektashi World Headquarters with a message touching on one of the most debated ideas recently put into circulation by Prime Minister Edi Rama: on the project of the so-called “Bektashi state,” he said, the Albanian people should decide.
Visit to Tirana and political meetings
During his stay in Albania, Zampolli held meetings with representatives of the Bektashi community and leaders of Albanian politics, while an agenda with government members had also been announced.
The visit comes at a time when public debate has once again focused on the idea of creating a sovereign Bektashi entity in Tirana, a project earlier presented by Rama and one that has raised more questions than institutional clarifications.
What he said about the “Bektashi state” project
Asked directly about the issue, Zampolli said he had heard the proposal both from the prime minister and from Baba Mondi. He did not give a clear political or diplomatic position on the project, but shifted the burden of the decision to the citizens.
According to his statement, “the people decide or will decide,” while adding that the international community will respect what he described as the decision of the Albanian people. At another moment, he suggested that he had heard some voices on the initiative, but not necessarily a direct expression of public will.
Healthcare and partnership with Americans
Beyond the debate over possible sovereign status, part of the visit focused on the construction of an advanced healthcare center near the Bektashi World Headquarters and cooperation with American partners.
Zampolli described this as an important initiative, also linking it to his personal experience in facing cancer. He said Albania needs hospitals and considered the partnership with Americans a positive development in that direction.
Political message on Albania-US relations
In his remarks, Zampolli repeated that Albania is an ally and friend of the United States. He mentioned the appointment of a new American ambassador and presented the relationship between the two countries as strong, with room to deepen further.
He also said he had previously met with Edi Rama and described Albania as an important partner in the region. Along the same lines, he also mentioned NATO as a necessary organization, although he clarified that this topic was not a direct part of his agenda during this visit.
The statements from the Bektashi World Headquarters leave open an issue that so far has been articulated more by high political levels than clarified on the constitutional, legal and public level.
That remains the core of the debate: beyond the ceremonial tones and diplomatic messages, the project for a “Bektashi state” still lacks a clear framework for public opinion.