In a UN general assembly vote on a resolution proposed by Turkey and Yemen on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and a group of Arab countries, rejecting the US’s recognition of undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Albania has voted with the other OIC members in favor.
Albania is the only European member in the OIC.
Ahead of the vote, US Ambassador to the US Nikki Haley had threatened that the US would “take names” of the countries voting in favor of the resolution, which passed with 128 votes in favor, 35 abstentions, and 9 votes against, including the US and Israel. An earlier vote in the Security Council on a similar resolution garnered nearly unanimous votes, with the US vetoing the resolution.
Although Albanian politicians generally express a strong pro-US opinion, Prime Minister Edi Rama has taken a distance from Albania’s major ally, criticizing Donald Trump during the US elections.
