Statue of Hillary Clinton

The Hillary Rodham Clinton Monument is a bronze bust of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former First Lady of the United States and presidential contender. It was constructed by Albanian sculptor Idriz Balani and presented in 2016 by Florjana Koka, Saranda’s first female mayor.

The municipal council chose to celebrate Clinton as a symbol of the longstanding Albanian-American relationship, as well as her services to the Albanian country and position as a female politician. Her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, was also instrumental in bringing a stop to the Kosovo genocide in 1999, for which many Albanians remain grateful.

Balani was inspired to create the sculpture after hearing Hillary Clinton speak to the Albanian parliament in 2012. She informed the gathering that Albania and the United States had celebrated the Balkan country’s first century together and that the two countries will remain allies for another 100 years.