TIRANA, June 3 – Albania took part at the Sarajevo meeting Wednesday where the European Union tried to reassure western Balkan states it is committed to accepting the former warring foes into the bloc. That’s has been a long-time pledge from Brussels which has also set some benchmarks for individual countries along their integration efforts.

There was nothing specific for Albania at the Sarajevo summit, where Tirana was represented with its Foreign Minister Ilir Meta. “The EU reiterated its unequivocal commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, which remains essential for the stability and development of the region. The future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union,” said the statement at the end of the summit. It also added that “The EU reaffirmed the need for fair and rigorous conditionality in the framework of the Stabilization and Association process and in accordance with the renewed consensus on enlargement approved by the European Council on December 2006.”

Albania is, meanwhile, preparing the last set of questions asked from Brussels that are to be added for the questionnaire it handed over earlier. Tirana expects a positive answer to take the candidate status this year. That is not sure.