Tarifa: NMI has intriguing culture, interesting history

A career sociologist, Albanian Ambassador to the United States Fatos Tarifa expressed fascination yesterday with the Northern Marianas, describing its culture as “very intriguing” and its history “very, very interesting.”

In his remarks during a luncheon hosted by Gov. Juan N. Babauta at Aqua Resort Club yesterday, Tarifa expressed great interest in knowing more about the islands.

“It has a very, very interesting history. You have a democracy that is twice longer than my country. You’ve got a culture that’s very, very intriguing [from a sociologist’s point of view]. There’s so much to learn and explore,” he said.

He said that today, he is scheduled to visit the North Field on Tinian, considered as the biggest airfield during World War II. The area was used by the U.S. government to launch the planes that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Yesterday, Tarifa, who traveled to Saipan with former North Carolina congressman David Funderburk, led a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Soldier Memorial Monuments at the American Memorial Park on Saipan.

Meantime, Babauta conferred upon Tarifa the title of ambassador of goodwill for the CNMI during yesterday’s gathering “to establish the linkage and further promote the friendship and cooperation between NMI and Albania.”

Albania, which became a republic in 1991, has a population of about 2.5 million people.

Tarifa described his country as “the last kept secret” in Europe. He said that usually an ambassador’s job is to sell his country, but as far as Albania is concerned, “it sells for itself because of its rich history.”

In his remarks yesterday, Tarifa said that Albania has great love for the United States for two reasons: It was the United States that helped Albania become an independent state in 1912 (under president Wilson) and it was the United States that helped greatly in sending troops to Kosovo, resulting in Albania finally obtaining its democracy.

“We love the United States more than other countries in the world,” he said, noting that Albania is one unique country in that part of Europe that extends free access to the U.S.

He expressed pride that a small country like Albania has been able to send troops to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the U.S. war on terror.

“For a long time, the U.S. has been our ally. For the first time, we became an ally of the U.S. in the international fight against terrorism. We’re among the very first nations to help the U.S. in Iraq,” he said.

He said Albania is “a small country but a big friend.”

“It’s our heart that loves America,” he said.

Tarifa’s visit to the CNMI is at the invitation of House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial as well as Developmental Disability Council director Thomas Camacho.

Tarifa and Funderburk were welcomed by the 14th CNMI Legislature in a joint session at 10am yesterday.

Tarifa is currently the ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the U.S., and also the ambassador (nonresident) to the United Mexican States, Dominican Republic, and Panama.

Tarifa, 50, is a career sociologist and university professor. He has a doctorate in sociology from the University of North Carolina and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Tirana.

He has authored and co-authored, and edited 13 books and numerous articles on political science, social theory, philosophy, social problems, intellectual history, and international relations.

Funderburk, who works now as consultant, had served as congressman for North Carolina from 1995 to 1997, and a U.S. ambassador to Romania from 1981 to 1985.