Albania, a new NATO member next week

TIRANA, March 26 – Albania is getting ready. It will be a new NATO member next week.
The government, institutions and obviously the entire population seem to enjoy the new partnership.
Albania, together with Croatia expect to become new NATO members at the Strasbourg-Kehl summit April 3-4. the summit will celebrate NATO’s 60th anniversary.
Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli arranged a short marathon in capital Tirana with high school students.
The capital is decorated with many banners for NATO and other objects.
“Building Europe as a free, whole, united one in peace, democracy and with joint values has been NATO’s strategic goal since six years ago. Accepting Albania and Croatia in the Northern Alliance will be a big step serving such a purpose,” said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Schaeffer in an interview to the Albanian daily Shqip.
Schaeffer repeated that Tirana had to continue strengthening the rule of law and the fight against corruption. “Reforming is not a process stopping at the moment of NATO membership,” said Schaeffer.
Albania has behaved as a real NATO member for many years, he added, referring not only to the reforms in the country but also with its military participation in international missions, or offering of its territory and air space for the alliance purposes.
“NATO membership means not to face only by yourself the problems of security,” said Schaeffer. “Albania’s and Croatia’s membership will give to the alliance more military and political power that may positively affect on the future and the environment we live in.”
further reforms in the country’s military personnel, equipping itself with the required armament and also training appropriately its personnel, getting rid of the excess weaponry are some issues the country should still strive to fulfill in the near future.
“Gerdec tragedy last year speaks of the big risks such a process should cope with. That is a problem that should be addressed with priority and in which the alliance is ready to give advice and assistance,” according to Schaeffer.
But Schaeffer also reminded Albania that “new members should achieve the political standards which make NATO a symbol of cooperation, democracy and peaceful coexistence. We hope and expect the upcoming elections will show not only the increasing maturity of Albania’s democracy but also its determination to fulfill the international obligation, including partnership with NATO,” said Schaeffer.