Delina Fico has reacted to Sali Berisha's accusations of misappropriation of USAID funds. Her lengthy reaction was also shared on Facebook by Bledi Çuçi, who writes "about the transparency of the accusations that come out of Sali's well."
Following her reaction, Fico says that she will face trial with the slanderers, while emphasizing that she has not received any payment from USAID or the US State Department for Albania since 2010. Fico also mentions the "Justice for All" program, funded by USAID, with a total value of 10 million dollars, which she says had no commitment or activity related to justice reform.
"As can be easily verified from the documents of these programs and from all American and Albanian employees and collaborators of both programs, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAYMENT, EVEN 0 DOLLARS/EURO/LEK, FROM THE FUNDS OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS, and I have not played and do not play any leadership, management, or advisory role for these two programs," Fico writes on her Facebook page.
Below is Delina Fico's full reaction.
This explanation is for the well-wishers and for those who want to learn facts and form their opinions based on them. As for those who wake up in the morning with a thirst to hate anyone who comes across them, and who work as all-rounders, don't even bother reading this explanation at all, let alone commenting, because they will go for Delete and Block.
First, since 2010, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAYMENT, EVEN 0 DOLLARS/EURO/LEK, FROM USAID OR US DEPARTMENT OF STATE FUNDS FOR ALBANIA. Also, since 1997, my income has come from employment with non-profit organizations and American companies, as well as UN agencies. My paid work since 2010 has no financial or programmatic connection to Albania.
Second, since 2014, I have been making an annual declaration of income and assets to the HIDACCI, due to the fact that I cohabit with Bledi Çuçi, who has had and still has duties that make the declaration of assets mandatory in this Inspectorate. During this period, we have successfully passed two detailed checks of the declaration of income and assets by the HIDACCI. Anyone can freely obtain information from the HIDACCI about my income and assets.
Third, since 2010, I have been employed by the East-West Management Institute (EWMI), a New York-based American non-profit organization, as the Director of Civil Society Programs. Over the past 30 years, EWMI has implemented several programs funded by the US government to strengthen the rule of law in Albania. For example, during the period 2016 - 2021, EWMI implemented the “Justice for All” program in Albania, funded by USAID, with a total value of $10 million. This program did not have any commitment or activity related to justice reform. During the period April 2021 - January 2025, EWMI implemented a program funded by the US Department of State, with a total budget of about $2 million, a program that helped the Supreme Court address the problem of backlogged cases.
As can be readily verified from the documents of these programs and from all American and Albanian employees and collaborators of both programs, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAYMENT, EVEN 0 DOLLARS/EURO/LEK, FROM THE FUNDS OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS, and I have not played and do not play any leadership, management, or advisory role for these two programs. At certain times, I have only played the role of legal representative of EWMI in Albania.
Those who know me for my activism in support of gender equality and social integration, this has been and continues to be my voluntary contribution.
"These are the facts. We will see the slanderers in court," Fico writes. (A2 Televizion)
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