Albania enjoyed by the forthcoming NATO membership

TIRANA, March 17 – Two weeks before the NATO summit that is expected to accept Albania and Croatia as its new members the tiny Balkan country is in a frantic atmosphere of diplomatic moves and joy at home.
The government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha continuously mentions the fact that the country’s biggest achievement so far is expected April 3 at the NATO summit.
Naturally it is also exploited politically by the governing coalition.
Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli in Brussels joins the Albanian officials traveling around the world mentioning the fact that future NATO membership is on the top of their agenda.
Meanwhile a top Italian delegation of senators came to visit the country ahead of the NATO membership.
Southeast European defense ministers gathered in Zagreb last week for an informal meeting that focused on the countries’ NATO bids. The ministers also discussed the challenges facing regional security, as well as co-operation possibilities among the Adriatic Charter states.
The expected accession of Croatia and Albania at next month’s NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kehl is viewed as a success for the entire region.
Assistant NATO Secretary-General Jiri Sedivy, who attended the meeting, reiterated that the Alliance plans to remain in Southeast Europe to help aspiring countries implement military and other reforms.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the Alliance expects to welcome Croatia as a member, despite the ongoing border dispute with Slovenia.
Croatia and Albania will be full-fledged members of NATO in April, the bloc’s secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said last week at an international conference titled “Ten Years in NATO: A Decade of Security.”
Albania has undergone a series of reform in its army, probably the best so far during its post-communist period.
The army is expected to end compulsory service by September and align its recruitment processes with NATO standards.