Canada gives green light to Albanian, Croatian NATO entry

Ottawa, Jan 13, 2009 — Canada announced Wednesday it has approved the NATO accession protocols of Albania and Croatia, and reaffirmed Ottawa’s belief in an open door policy for the Atlantic alliance.
“Canada has been a strong supporter of the NATO membership goals of Albania and Croatia, and ratification of these protocols is the firmest expression of this support,” said Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon.
“It sends a clear message that will inspire other NATO aspirant countries to continue on the path of integration and reform.”
Cannon and his defense colleague Peter MacKay “expressed Canada’s support of NATO’s Open Door Policy, which demonstrates the alliance’s readiness to accept new members from among European democracies,” they said in a statement.
NATO leaders agreed at an April 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest to move soon on membership for Albania and Croatia.