Avni Mustafaj

Many Albanians in the US and at home have been enthusiastically backing Hillary Clinton's bid for the nomination as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate.

The former director of the National Albanian-American Council, lobbyist Avni Mustafaj, told BIRN that Albanians in US believe the Clintons remain highly sympathetic to Albanian issues.

Albania in January will start what is being called a "patriotic contract" - the registration of all Albanians who live outside the country.

The initiative is being prepared by the Interior Ministry and being conducted for the first time in 25 years, after countless Albanians emigrated, mostly to Western Europe and the United States.