Berisha in US meets top leaders

TIRANA, Feb 9 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha flew to Washington last week to take part at the prayer breakfast and also hold a series of meetings with American political figures.
He attended a Thursday, Feb. 5 national prayer breakfast addressed by President Barack Obama, as well as individual meetings with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Republican Sen. John McCain, and other congressmen and top officials.
Berisha was accompanied by the Republican Party leader Fatmir Mediu, opposition Socialist Party lawmakers Namik Dokle, Arben Malaj and Marko Bello.
During his short talks with Biden he also invited the vice president for a visit to Albania in the future, something that was accepted.
During the talks Berisha thanked the American officials for their support to Albania’s integration process into NATO, which it hopes to become a full member by April.
Berisha also welcomed Obama’s decision to close the Guantanamo prison adding that if the United States would ask Tirana would seriously consider taking more Guantanamo prisoners for shelter.
Albania took five Uighurs and three other Arabs in 2006 becoming the first and the only country to accept them. But until now it has been reluctant to take more.