Klaus cools down Albania’s EU optimism

TIRANA, Oct 6 – Czech President Vaclav Klaus made a two-day visit to the country to meet with all top officials and also promote one of his books.
Klaus’ visit came only days after the Irish ‘yes’ vote on the Lisbon Treaty which was highly praised by the Albanian government and considered as a green light toward further enlargement of the bloc.
Klaus made it clear that the Lisbon Treaty was not on Europe’s further enlargement and also told Albanians “that was a tragic misunderstanding.”
The declaration that the approval of the EU reform Lisbon treaty will open a path towards further EU enlargement is a mystification being spread by “the Brussels centers” and some European politicians, Klaus said.
The admittance of new countries to the European Union is possible on the basis of the functioning EU agreements, too, Klaus said in Tirana after talks with his Albanian counterpart Bamir Topi.
Klaus was during all the first day of his visit ‘sprayed’ with questions from journalists whether he realized that the approval of the Lisbon treaty was important for Albania’s chance to joint the EU.
The Czech Republic together with Poland are the last two that have to ratify it.
“The mystification that the Lisbon treaty opens the door to other countries to enter the European Union is really one of the untruths which are being spread and which are unfortunately being spread by someone from the Brussels headquarters and politicians or civil servants,” Klaus said.
“This is simply not true and the existing agreements allow for either the admittance or non-admittance of new members. In this respect nothing stands and falls with the Lisbon treaty,” Klaus told Czech journalists.
He said at the press conference that it was a “tragic misunderstanding” to believe that the treaty is a condition for EU enlargement.
The key European countries – France and Germany – have made it clear that they are not inclined to support entry of new countries to the European Union without the ratification of the Lisbon treaty on EU reform.
According to them, the Lisbon treaty is aimed at more effective functioning of the EU after the previous waves of enlargement in which countries from central and Eastern Europe joined the EU.
“I cannot sign the treaty even if I wanted it very much,” Klaus said, adding he did not come to Albania to discuss the Lisbon treaty or its ratification.
The Czech parliament has passed the treaty, but Klaus, considered one of the biggest Eurosceptics within the EU, has not signed it.
Albania submitted its application for entry to the EU in April during the Czech EU presidency. Then Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that the Czech Republic would support Albania for the entire period of its accession talks with the EU.
Klaus also said in Tirana today that the Czech Republic would support “Albania’s future in the EU.”
Klaus was on a two-day visit to Tirana. He had dinner with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and a meeting with Albanian parliament chairwoman Jozefina Topalli.
Klaus also took part in a business forum in Tirana and visited the port town of Durres.