Albania continues movement to NATO membership

TIRANA, May 21 – A year ahead of the Bucharest summit where the country hopes to get an invitation for full membership into the NATO alliance, Albania has a long road to go in its military, economic and political reform process.
NATO has made it clear that accepting new members will be done based on each country’s individual performance.
That is a clear message to Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, which have created the Adriatic 3 charter, also supported by Washington. They have significantly improved coordination of their joint operations, considered a good move for further steps.
The three of them have troops in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Albania is to send another one to Lebanon.
This week, Albania will present its report to the NATO headquarters in Brussels on the reforms it has already undertaken. Prime Minister Sali Berisha will present the progress-report.
The report will very likely not give new information to NATO members who are well aware of developments in Albania, due to the representatives each country has here.
It would not be a surprise if they would say that much more was expected for acceptance into NATO.
It is well known that Albania has made good progress in its military reforms and that has been often noted by NATO senior officials and other senior officials of NATO member countries.
But they have also often said that NATO membership is not linked only to military reforms. They have repeatedly said the country needs to make more progress in the fight against organized crime and corruption and in the advancement of the rule of law. Additionally, politics may be considered a weak point for the tiny Balkan country.
U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit to the country on June 10 is considered a favorable sign toward NATO membership. Many would probably consider that a still informal confirmation of our country’s membership. The fact that the U.S. president will also convene in Albania a meeting with the other two Adriatic 3 charter members indicates Albania is abiding by international laws and playing a moderating role in the region that has been embroiled in wars through the end of last century.
Albania was the first in eastern europe to sign the Partnership for Peace document with NATO covering politics, the army, security, resources and legislation.
Albania has made much progress in its army and military sphere. The government has also pledged to increase the military expenditure to two percent of the GDP, as required by NATO, starting with next year’s budget. The country has also been praised for its role in peacekeeping missions worldwide.
But political stabilty and exonomic reforms are still big challenges to the country. Election of a new president next month is a good example of showing the Albania’s poltical maturity and will very likely play an important role in achieving the country’s goal of NATO membership. Albania will also be evaluated based upon for its role in helping resolve problems in Kosova. Official Tirana has often made clear there is no desire to create a Greater Albania and it has openly supported the proposal from U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari on Kosova’s status, also opposing Belgrade and Moscow’s calls for a new monitoring mission to Kosova.
Tirana has often said that an indepedent Kosova would be the only solution to bring peace and stability,not only in that province but the region as well.