NATO invitation – a momentous event for Albania, says minister

Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha stated at the 12 Annual Economist Government Roundtable “Driving the Global Agenda Through 2020″ that the NATO invitation to Albania and the Kosovar indepepedence were the main events in this part of Europe that were increasing its peace and stability in the former war-torn region.
Following is his speech at the event.

Let me first say that only a few days ago, the Bucharest Summit extended to Albania and Croatia the official invitation to join NATO;this is momentous event for my country and its history.
Meanwhile, the Declaration of 17 February 2008 proclaimed Kosovo an independent and sovereign state. It goes beyond doubt that these two events are the most significant developments in Southeast Europe, whose impact exceeds the regional borders.
Albania strongly believes that, in essence, NATO enlargement toward the Balkans represents the enhancement of the space of freedom, stability and security; accordingly, it signifies the shrinkage and the diminishment of the space of instability and insecurity in this region. In this sense, we fully support the Declaration of Bucharest Summit and in view of the EU and NATO political strategies, we are ready to render our own modest contribution for the integration of our neighbours in these structures. Only a clear and all-inclusive perspective for the membership to NATO and the EU could finally pacify the Balkans, safeguard its stability and, in the long run, even the European stability.
The invitation for membership to Albania and Croatia proves that the warnings on ” the enlargement fatigue” were unfounded. The NATO “open door policy” is the only correct and realistic policy of mutual geo-strategic and geo-political benefits, both for NATO and its new Member States, or even those aspiring for their integration to the Organization. The message is important and evident: the path to NATO is open for each country, once they comply with the membership criteria and standards; the latter are met not only through military, but also through political and economic reforms, painstaking, as they often are. Nevertheless, these reforms are worth the costs, since ultimately, the countries performing them would line up with the forces of peace, liberty and progress.
We think that our togetherness at this missionary process is the most correct and the fastest track in ensuring stability and development for our countries and the region as a whole. True, this is not a single track process; what counts most, however, is that we have all agreed to encounter these challenges together, to share the experiences and the obtained experience, welcoming and commending the assistance of our Euro – Atlantic partners.
Albania has made notable progress vis – a – vis its integration reforms. The relevant legal frame is already laid down fitted to the integration needs. Structural reforms have been unveiled, focusing particularly on the fair and transparent privatization of the major national assets and on setting up efficient mechanisms of order and law enforcement.
The Stabilization and Association Process, whereby other countries of the region take part, has defined a frame of concrete commitments and a clear perspective, not only in economic, but also in security terms.
Albania’s economy is developing with a steady annual rate of 6 per cent, keeping inflation under control, at 2.9%. Compared to 2006, exports went up by 28%, whereas foreign investments grew by 87%; The administrative costs declined from 3 to 2.1 % of the GDP. The Government policies, intertwined with the uncompromising fight against corruption, smuggling and fiscal evasion have led to the growth of budget revenues with nearly one billion US Dollars as against the year 2006, at a time when Albania is the country with the lowest fiscal burden in Europe.
Nearly 205 criminal groups were cracked down and 850 persons were brought to justice in 2007.
These achievements of my country’s democratic progress and development are also a contribution to the region as a whole.
The implementation of common projects and strategies is assuming an increasing significance in terms of regional cooperation. In this way, our economies become ever more competitive, but also more complementary to each other; hence, we could make our energy and telecommunciation systems better inter-connected and our transport roads more modern and integrated.
We believe in a world which is becoming increasingly global; therefore, through our policies we try to follow up the global trends. Our countries are small and incapable of competing alone. Individually, the markets of our countries are small-sized and not competitive. Nonetheless, together – with integrated transport, energy, telecommunication and markets, we may be more capable, more serious to ourselves, to each other, to our regional and extra-regional partners.
Our regional cooperation is dictated not only by the immediate interests or the economic benefits, but also by the long-term necessity to face the common challenges – combating terrorism, organized crime, illicit traffics and others. In this regard, as a serious and loyal partner, Albania is ready to offer its own contribution to meet all these challenges.
I believe I share the same view with most of You that it would be pretty hard to imagine the currect stage of development in our region without NATO’s presence. Here, I have in mind, first and foremost, the developments in Kosovo.
We consider the founding of the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo as an historic event; it provides more freedom, security and stability to the Balkans. The Republic of Kosovo becomes a worthy actor in the international arena, with a clear European and Atlantic orientation, an important factor of peace, stability, security, harmonious development and integration in Southeast Europe.
Kosovo is an independent country now and this is a fact that nobody can prevent it. Countries that represent 70 per cent of the GDP of the globe have recognized it.
Last year I have seen our colleague and friend, Vuk Jeremic wake up every morning trying to prevent it. He has employed the best of his efforts and elloquence in any form to stop the independence of Kosovo, he has spared no effort but he has failed and nothing could be done about it. It was not You or President Tadic who lost Kosovo; it was the radical nationalists with their 19th century nationalism that lost Kosovo and their impact upon the whole Balkan countries. In this view and for the sake of freedom and stability, we have made all efforts so that Kosovo be a safe place.
We are convinced that Kosovo’s case is unique and the applied solution is also unique – (a) Kosovo is an outcome of the dismemberment of a state that has ceased to exist; (b) Kosovo used to be a constituent part of a state that broke up through violence ( c)Kosovo’s population was subject to a systematic cruel discrimination; the latter is a typical feature of colonial countries, which frequently assumed the proportion of a state genocide; it reached its peak during the tragic events in 1999, when over a million of Albanian Kosovars were forced to leave their own lands; nearly 10.000 were murdered and over 3.000 other persons are considered as disappeared even to date; (d) as of the year 1999, pursuant to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Kosovo is under the administration of the UN International Mission; in practical terms, it implies that Serbia has been “de facto” stripped away of its sovereignty over Kosovo; (dh) The Ahtisaari Plan, which stands on the foundations of the post-status Kosovo was developed while taking into account the local circumstances and the sensibilities there.
All these specifics have made the UN secretary general, the NATO secretary general, the High representative and Secretary general of the Council of European Union and other authorities to state that Kosovo a unique or ” sui generis” case, which does not and cannot serve as a pattern for other conflicts, neither in the Balkans nor in other regions of the world; henceforth, it is far from being a destabilizing element.
We have applauded and at the same time encouraged the Kosovo political factor to retain the calmness, maturity and self-restraint, so as to avoid any provocation and to carry on its cooperation with the international factor, the representatives and citizens of entire Kosovo and the minorities, in particular. Simultaneously, we have called on the Belgrade authorities to adhere to their own commitments to avoid violence and we demand the same from Serbs in Kosovo.
Unfortunately, the developments on the ground show that certain segments of politics in Belgrade and a part of Serbs in Kosovo are not holding on to these commitments. The repeated violent actions, the presentation of partition plans on ethnic grounds and even the calls to infringe the territorial integrity of independent Kosovo state pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability, not only in Kosovo, but throughout the region.
Viewed from this perspective, the Declaration of Bucharest Summit on developments in Kosovo assumes a special significance. NATO’s engagement in support of a democratic, multi-ethnic, stable and peaceful Kosovo, as well as its appeal to all regional actors to avert actions and rhetoric that undermine security in Kosovo or other parts of the region, make us firmly believe on a soft and peaceful transition process in Kosovo; certainly, the outcome would be the consolidation of its vision of stability and the stability of the region as a whole.
Finally, a few words about our Euro – Atlantic perspective. True, it was a dream for us all, it was a dream for Albania to be part of NATO. But it is not a dream any more, it is a reality. A reality that we chose and worked hard for. The results of our coutries are the results of painstakling reforms. Reforms that requre political courage and sacrifices. Therefore, I would compare the European and Euro – Atlantic perspective of the region with a faith. It is a politial faith that strengthens the believers and their self – confidence. That is why I take this opportunity from this stage to once again call on all of us, countries of Western Balkans to place our faith in European integration, as the only alternative for the region.
Address of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lulzim Basha, at the 12 Annual Economist Government Roundtable “Driving the Global Agenda Through 2020”