Berisha thanks US for NATO support

TIRANA, Dec 3 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha sent a letter of thanks to US President George W. Bush for Washington’s support in Albania’s integration efforts into NATO.
Earlier this year Albania received a membership invitation along with Croatia and later signed the NATO membership protocol.
The protocol needs to be ratified by all 26 member countries before Tirana and Zagreb become members, which is very likely to occur at next year’s summit when NATO will celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Berisha thanked the US for assisting with the instruments of ratification of the membership protocol, thus concluding all the legal demands needed for that from an important NATO country like US.
Berisha considered that step “as the best example of the excellent relations existing between our two countries, governments and people, and of the close friendship and solidarity between the Albanian and American nations.”