Italy’s Fini pledges support to Euro-Atlantic integration

TIRANA, Sep 15 – Italian Speaker Gianfranco Fini pledged to Albania Italy’s continuing support in its road toward integration into NATO and the European Union.
Fini visited Albania Monday to meet with Albanian officials.
Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, described him as “my friend, a friend of Albania and the Albanian people”.
Fini expressed “appreciation to the authorities’ of Albania for the guarantees offered for controlled immigration and legality.”
Berisha also argued that, “if there had not been Italy, Albania could not make changes during the last three years in which the State and the Italian people have been major players.”
Both Berisha and Fini described as “excellent” the bilateral relations between the two countries.
“Italy is at the forefront in supporting Albania and its integration efforts into the European Union, not only due to friendship but, also, because this is ‘one of our specific interest,” said Fini, adding that nowadays “Italian entrepreneurs are not afraid to invest in Albania.”
The policies of zero tolerance against crime and for legalizing immigration has been hailed as success in the relations between Italy and Albania, according to Fini, who said that Albania is a country in which legality and safety are now guaranteed.
Fini said that, at a time when immigration is becoming even more important in Italy, what Albanian authorities have done to guarantee controlled transit certainly represents an example to be followed.
Fini further said that Italy would soon ratify the protocol regarding Albania’s future membership in NATO. Tirana received its membership invitation at NATO’s April summit in Bucharest.
Berisha thanked Italy for the support offered to Albania “since the fall of the Berlin Wall” and in its support for Albania’s European integration.
The Albanian premier also reiterated his country’s offer to produce nuclear energy, assuring Italian investors of the support of the Albanian government.