Berisha hails end of NATO membership protocol ratification

TIRANA, Feb 18 – Greece was the last NATO member country to ratify Albania’s and Croatia’s membership protocol, thus opening the way to the two western Balkan countries toward their full membership likely at NATO’s April summit.
A day earlier Netherlands also ratified the protocol.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha held a news conference to hail such a fast procedure taken from the NATO member countries.
“NATO membership is a major event for Albania,” said Berisha, adding that was also a testimony of Albania’s efforts and reforms to build the legal state, market economy and its role for peace and stability in the region.
Berisha also said that achievement would be impossible if former US President George W. Bush had not supported this process.
In April last year Albania received the membership invitation at the NATO summit in Bucharest.
In July Albania signed the membership protocol with NATO that should be ratified by all member countries before a candidate may take the next big step of full membership.