Berisha urges Balkan integration at summit on SE Europe

VIENNA, July 28 – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha took part in a summit of the Balkan heads of government on Sunday to discuss future stability in southeastern Europe. The summit was held in Salzburg, Austria and titled “Maintaining Stability in South East Europe in the 21st Century.” Its formal agenda covered climate change, energy policy and regional transport infrastructure. The summit was organized by the Austrian Prime Minister, Alfred Gusenbauer, with the participation of the prime ministers of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania. Berisha had the chance to meet with many counterparts in informal meetings. Berisha said that the integration of the Balkan countries into the European Union was the goal his country sought. The premier said that with one half of Poland’s population, and one percent of the EU’s GDP contribution, it would cost very little for the bloc to join the EU. (Tirana Times Staff)