By Bamir Topi
Today my country is signing the most important act in its history; today the Albanian people is finally departing from the past of Yalta and Potsdam; Albania in a very dignifying way is successfully demonstrating that freedom and democracy can be transformed into virtues also in the country where not even two decades ago, the harshest dictatorship of the post Second World War history had transformed the violation of freedom and right into an institution.
As the President of Albania, I would like to thank all those friendly countries that believed on the sincere Euro-Atlantic request and wish of the Albanian people and supported it. This dream which was naturally born in the very first days of the liberation of the Albanian society from Communism came true today in Bucharest.
The whole Albanian society, Albanian politics, media and representatives of civil society in Albania are determined and responsible to support the accession of their country to NATO.
Albania is already on its irreversible way towards building a democratic state and Rule of Law. We are determined not to stop in front of this challenge, in the name of a better, safer and prosperous future for our children, where any sacrifice is justified.
The important political and economical reforms undertaken by Albania in the judicial system, in the electoral system, in the security system, the reforms in the Armed Forces, in modernizing the institutions, the reforms to eradicate corruption and the fight against organized crime which are the contribution of all the political forces: of the ruling majority and opposition as well, of all the governments since 1992, but especially of the very Albanian people are irreversible, fundamental and indispensable processes also for an Alliance member country.
I consider the decision taken by the Alliance today as an appreciation and trust upon the entire up to the present, all sided, serious and multilevel engagement of my country, and as a major obligation that we have in front of both the friendly Alliance member countries and the Albanian people as well.
Albania is ready to become an important part of security and democracy policies of the Alliance, not only on regional level, but also on the global one as well.
The extension of NATO on the Balkans space remarkably thaws the insecurity space within the European continent. It offers the assurance of long-term security and of development and prosperity and helps to democratize the Balkans countries by showing them the sole right path to depart from their past of inter-ethnic animosity.
Albania, through its regional Euro-Atlantic policy will support the integration of the Republic of Kosova in the security and development spaces and will be ready to offer its individual contributions within the NATO and European Union policies for the integration of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
The regional crisis, political or economical, the violation of human rights by dictatorial regimes, underdevelopment, poverty and hunger, which threaten millions of people, the inter-ethnic and inter-cultural conflicts and the international terrorism and global warming threaten the future of humankind and try to ruin the tendency and balance of the sustainable development and security of international relations. All these major challenges demand immediate and determined answers – answers that must be constructed and articulated based on the contributions and participation of interests which are not only individual, but global as well. Internal or external insecurity is a virus from which no one enjoys a long-term immunity. Albania is ready not only to become part but also to offer its values in enriching and preserving the global values of civilizations.
The Albanian people today is alongside those countries and peoples who use as compass of their national development the values of democracy and freedom to build a brighter future not only for their respective societies, but for all world societies and nations. We are proud and at the same time, aware and responsible of this act.
President Bamir Topi’s speech held at the Bucharest summit
