British Ambassador to NATO says next months are decisive for NATO membership

TIRANA, Jan. 20 – In a press statement on Friday, British Ambassador to NATO Stewart Eldon said that he was impressed by the progress Albania has made in its NATO integration process and its contribution to the military campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The British, along with four other NATO ambassadors, finished their two day visit to Albania on Friday, where they met with various high-level government representatives to discuss and assess Albania’s implementation efforts of the NATO integration process. Albania hopes to receive its NATO membership invitation at NATO’s April summit in Bucharest.
Eldon also said the upcoming months will be decisive for Albania to accomplish the two remaining imperatives to NATO membership: electoral and justice system reforms. “I believe willingness for cooperation is key, however, I can say it will be a long process. As you may well know, the final decision on whether to extend membership or not [to Albania] will ultimately be a political one,” said Seldon.