Berisha’s Washington visit explores ties, support

TIRANA, April 25 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha started Tuesday a week-long visit to the United States where he is to meet with top US officials and also take part at the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Vatra association. Berisha is to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top officials.
Berisha’s visit seems to have ‘concluded’ the series of trips made by many Albanian top politicians and officials recently in the United States.
Berisha’s trip was much expected and debated in the country, often saying whether he would go there at all, and other times discussing how he had lobbied for participation at the Vatra ceremony and meeting with top U.S. officials.
Albania is awaiting the presidential electionطhich is becoming a hot topic of debate.
The visit also comes while prosecutors, assisted by the FBI, are to make charges against the suspects for the death of four opposition supporters at the Jan. 21, 2011 protest.
It also comes at a time when the call from the international community, the U.S. included, to fight corruption has not subsided, or better say has heightened.
Albanian justice and its independence remain contro-versial. The trial for the death of 26 Albanians in the blast in the Gerdec ammunition disposal factory continues to be on the Albanian agenda, awaiting the appeals court to give the final verdict.
Tirana considers Washington its strategic ally. Now a NATO member, for which Washington was the main pusher and supporter, Albania has also applied for the European Union candidate status.