Europe: SAA yes, challenge ahead

STRASBOURG, Sept. 6 – The European Parliament ratified Wednesday the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Albania, which is a first step toward membership. The SAA has now to be ratified by all the 25 member countries before it comes into power, a process that has taken two to three years with previous candidates. It is expected that Albania has to fulfill all its requests normally within a ten-year period.
Parliamentarians expressed their concern on the fragile political developments in the country and repeated their request to the Albanian government and public for the rule of law, fight against organized crime and corruption. They also mentioned the freedom of media, especially on the case of the move of private media group Top Media from its quarters at the pyramid building in downtown Tirana that the government has decided to turn into an art center. Parliamentarians, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also said that the Eu may soon start negotiations with Albania to facilitate the visa regime for certain groups of the society.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who was on a visit to Turkey, hailed the agreement as a ‘historic event’ for Albanians’ efforts of integration. “That voting adds to the obligation on the Albanian institutions, political forces and the whole Albanian society to firmly carry out all the points of these contract between Albanians and Europe,” said a statement.
Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli said that makes more touchy ‘our joint European dream.’ “That is the first important step toward Europe,” she said. “The challenge starts now.”
Albania signed the SAA June 12 after three years of negotiations.