“Albania occupies weight”, US official at the UN: I will never forget the day I met Mother Teresa

“Albania is one of the strongest voices in the Security Council for the common values ​​about what the United Nations should do in the world, that is, issues that come before the Security Council.” said the American official, while assessing as quite effective the role of our country in terms of the war in Ukraine.

The senior official did not leave without mentioning the meeting with St. Mother Teresa in 1989 when he was working in the visa department, describing him as an extraordinary man.

Full interview for Top Story

Sokol Balla: Mr. Ambassador, thank you for being with us.

Richard M.Mills Jr .: Nice to be with you.

Sokol Balla: Albania will take over the presidency of the Security Council from the United States of America, what can you tell us more about the cooperation of the two countries on foreign policy issues and of course here at the United Nations?

Richard M.Mills Jr .: Here at the United Nations, Albania is one of the strongest voices in the Security Council on common values ​​about what the United Nations should do in the world, ie issues that come before the Security Council. As we say here in America, Albania weighs its word strongly, as is the case with Ukraine, for which Albania in particular has been a strong voice. We have worked closely with Albania with its mission here led by an effective, highly articulate, determined and passionate ambassador. We have worked together on drafting several draft resolutions that have come to the Council. We actually asked Albania if it would like to be with us Pen-Holder, a term in the UN, but Albania and we are responsible for every first draft resolution or press release coming from the Council for Ukraine. Albania has done a very effective job.

Sokol Balla: In fact you just burned my second question about Ukraine. Let me ask you the same question I asked Ambassador Ferit Hoxha. What can a small country like Albania do to leave its mark on UN history?

Richard M.Mills Jr .: For one thing. They can speak loudly and effectively. There are 110 countries in the UN with a population of less than 10 million people. What is happening now especially in Ukraine is an attack on one of the UN chapters, it is a threat to all of us and in particular to small states that rely on international law and the principles of UN chapters that give security and Albania is a voice for these 110 seats in the Security Council. By size you are the smallest seat on the council right now. But I think that the voice of Albania has a place and weight for this reason. Albania has effectively used being in the Council as a platform to curb disinformation coming from Russia by telling the truth.

For example, Albania held a special meeting held in the Council where foreign guests are allowed to speak. They held a very important meeting convened by the Albanian delegation demanding accountability and bringing to justice the crimes talked about, international law, crimes against people according to international law that we are now seeing in Ukraine. Albania in this meeting brought some very good experts to talk about and how the international community should address these issues. It was really an important step. Other members also praised Albania for this leadership.

Sokol Balla: Before that Albania was known by a name. Mother Teresa. I have been lucky in my life as a journalist to meet him. I was told you met him too.

Richard M.Mills Jr.: Yes, I met him. One of the good things about being a graduate is that you are in the same environment with inspiring, important people, presidents, foreign ministers, secretaries of state, religious leaders, but for me absolutely during my career it is an opportunity to meet Mother Teresa very early in my career. I was in Paris and I will never forget the day I met Mother Teresa. I worked in the visa department. It was in 1989. That was before we changed visa policy with many western countries. A Frenchman needed a visa to go to America and there was a long queue at the Paris consulate and we, as usual, went out for lunch and when we returned we found the long queue again. We felt a little guilty about it. It was July and we saw a little nun in line.

We went into the office and someone asked. Is it Mother Teresa in that row in the yard? We had cameras. We started moving them and saw him. Yes, it was Mother Teresa. And then we all said. O great God, let us invite him to come to the office and not let him wait in that July heat. We sent someone outside and together with a Marine guard we had, they asked him if he wanted to come inside the office.

She said no. I will wait in line like everyone else. Said, thank you. I’m waiting for my turn. He waited about 20-30 minutes and then came to my visa counter. She was not applying for herself, but for someone else.

Sokol Balla: How simple and how extraordinary it was.

Richard M.Mills Jr .: Yes. Absolutely yes. I apologized for the reception. She was very cheerful and told me “there is nothing wrong with waiting in line. It’s worth it if someone manages to go to the US. It was really very very good. I have wonderful memories from her of how extraordinary she was. It is true that some people sometimes radiate qualities and she really radiated those qualities.

Sokol Balla: Ambassador Mills thank you so much for being with us.

Richard M.Mills Jr .: Thanks, it was a pleasure.

top channel