TIRANA, April 2 – Albania officially became a NATO member on 1 April 2009.
NATO and Albania have cooperated in a wide range of areas since 1992, with a particular emphasis on defense and security sector reform, as well as support for wider democratic and institutional reform.
In April 2008, Albania was invited to start accession talks to become a member of the Alliance. The accession protocols were signed on 9 July 2008.
During the period leading up to accession, NATO had been involving Albania in Alliance activities to the greatest extent possible, and continued to provide support and assistance, including through the Membership Action Plan.
Albania is currently contributing with 142 troops to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 2003. It also contributes to the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina with 13 forces; it alsosupported Allied peacekeeping operations in Kosovo by hosting a logistics support command, which became a regional military headquarters, NATO HQ Tirana, in 2002. It has had its unit in Iraq and also another one in Chad. Three of its military also stay at a NATO command in Georgia.
Prior to its membership, Albania’s cooperation with NATO took place in the framework of the Membership Action Plan, which set out its reform plans and timelines in its Annual National Programme (ANP). Key areas included political, military and security-sector reforms. Important priorities were efforts to meet democratic standards, support for reducing corruption and fighting organized crime, judicial reform, improving public administration and promoting good-neighborly relations.
Until the Bucharest Summit last year, where Albania was invited to join NATO, the alliance’s teams visited Albania to draft a progress report on the implementation, of the ANP, including possible recommendations for further action. These were agreed by Allies and then discussed by the North Atlantic Council with representatives from Albania at a high-level meeting at the end of the cycle. More specific and technical reforms in the defense area were discussed and assessed in parallel in the context of the Partnership for Peace Planning and Review Process (PARP) through which the country has accepted planning targets, or Partnership Goals, in a wide variety of defense capability areas.
Following theinvitation issued atthe Bucharest Summit, work with Albania in the defense reform/defense planning areas has been gradually switched to the modalities which apply to Allies.
Albania also cooperates with NATO and Partner countries in a wide range of other areas through the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). It tailors its participation in the PfP programme through an annual Individual Partnership Programme, selecting those activities that will help achieve the goals it has set in the Annual National Programme.
Albania played an important role in supporting Allied efforts in 1999 to end the humanitarian tragedy in Kosova and secure the peace after the air campaign. The country allowed the Allies to establish a logistics support command centre in Tirana to help sustain peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. In 2002, NATO established a regional military headquarters in Tirana (NATO HQ Tirana), which was incorporated into the structures of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). Albania also provided support to the Allies for the stabilization operations in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 from 2001 to 2003.
It has had small units participating in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chad, Iraq and Georgia, though some of them have been either under US command or the EU one.
Albania has identified a number of units available for operations, training and exercises with NATO, under the umbrella of PfP. These include an infantry company that remains on high readiness, a commando company, including Special Forces elements, and medical support, engineer and military-police platoons. Albania has also hosted and participated in a range of PfP exercises and activities.
Albania contributes to the fight against terrorism through its participation in the Partnership Action Plan on Terrorism. This includes sharing intelligence and analysis with NATO, enhancing national counter-terrorist capabilities and improving border security.
NATO is supportive of the wide-ranging and ongoing democratic and institutional reform process underway in Albania, which is outlined in its Annual National Programme.
Key milestones
1992 Albania joins the newly created North Atlantic Cooperation Council, renamed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997
1994 Albania joins the Partnership for Peace (PfP).
1996 Albanian forces join the NATO-led SFOR peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina
1999 NATO establishes a logistical base in Tirana to support Allied operations in Kosovo.
2000 Albania hosts the PfP exercise “Adventure Express” in April and “Cooperative Dragon” in June.
2001 Albania hosts the initial phase of the PfP exercise “Adventure Express 01” in April and May.
2002 NATO HQ Tirana is established to assist Albania in the implementation of its defense capability reforms as well as to contribute to the command and control of KFOR.
2003 Albanian forces deploy in support of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
2005 Albania joins the Operational Capabilities Concept.
A combined medical team of the three MAP countries joins NATO-led forces in Afghanistan in August.
Albania hosts the PfP exercise “Cooperative Engagement 05” in September.2007
Albania hosts a meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Policy Advisory Group of the EAPC in May.
Albania hosts the PfP exercises “Cooperative Longbow 07” and “Cooperative Lancer 07”. 2008
In April 2008, Albania is invited to start accession talks with the Alliance.
NATO Allies sign protocols on Albania’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty on 9 July 2008.
2009 1April 2009, Albania becomes a full member of the Alliance.
