Albanian ambassador discusses international democracy and foreign relations at Cooley

Albanian Ambassador to the United States Floreta Faber was the featured speaker during a discussion regarding international relations at WMU-Cooley Law School’s Auburn Hills campus, Feb. 2.

During the discussion, Faber spoke about Albanian history, America’s involvement in Albania’s judicial reform and current struggles of the country’s judicial system. She said the judicial reform began for several reasons, noting the desire to have a more secure country, and to encourage investments in the country. She also emphasized how Albania must have a full judicial reform, including the vetting of judges and prosecutors, in order to become a member of the European Union.

WMU-Cooley Law School Auxiliary Dean and Associate Professor Erika R. Breitfeld also spoke during the event. She discussed young lawyer training programs she believes could benefit communities that are rebuilding their judicial systems.

 Faber has served as executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania since its opening in 2000. In this capacity, she works closely with representatives of the Albanian and American government, international organizations and the European Union, as well as business organizations in the U.S., Europe and beyond. Faber has been instrumental to the organization’s development of functions like the advocacy capacity of the business community in Albania. Her experience in public and government relations; roundtables and negotiations; managing organizations; advocacy to the highest levels of government, international organizations and diplomatic circles; and bringing American and other international experiences to the Albanian environment has led her to become well-known as an expert in several fields.

 Faber offered to visit the law school and join the international relations discussion following the work of WMU-Cooley student Laura Ivezaj. In November 2017, Ivezaj was selected by the Albanian Embassy in the United States to take part in “An Albanian Day in Washington D.C.,” a program which introduces graduate students to government organizations, institutions and representatives who contribute to and influence relations between Albania and the U.S. Its purpose was to open the doors for future leaders of the Albanian American community to discuss how to further strengthen foreign policy and international diplomatic relations between the countries.