France supports Albania’s EU bid

TIRANA, April 26 – France will support efforts by Albania to join the EU, according to the French president’s office.
In a statement issued after President Nicolas Sarkozy met with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, the French presidency expressed its support.
“Albania will be a member of the European Union and France fully supports this idea,” it said.
Albania, one of Europe’s poorest countries, said it would apply to join the EU.
The EU has held out the prospect of membership to countries across the Balkans, but a mood of caution has been detectable in recent months as the impact of recession has spread.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha met last week with Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace.
Sarkozy congratulated Berisha for Albania joining the North Atlantic Alliance.
Berisha considered the meeting with Sarkozy a historic landmark in the bilateral relations.
He also thanked Sarkozy for the support to Albania’s EU integration efforts and highlighted the fact that 96% of the Albanians backed integration and that the process would be constant and irreversible.
President Sarkozy also highlighted Albania’s support to French businesses.
Berisha mentioned to his host Tirana’s major reforms, “the only way for the Albanians to have their NATO and EU integration dream become a reality.”
Several French companies operate successfully in Albania. Another important factor is that Albania is a very francophone country where French is a favorite language, according to Berisha.
The Albanian premier repeated his government’s support for the French businesses and urged more to come.
“We are a small country, but of great potential in energy, minerals, tourism and a country with among the most favorable labor force in Europe. We have implemented major economic reforms; we passed the law on public private partnership; in 3 to 4 years time we shall have a new infrastructure network, Šfor my government, education of the young people will always be a priority.”
President Sarkozy said he would visit Albania in the near future.
Berisha also met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kushner.
Kushner said that the reforms had changed Albania’s image and focused especially in the fight to dismantle organized crime and corruption.
Kushner said France supported Albania’s application for the candidate status to the EU as well as the liberalization of the visa regime and the free movement of its citizens.
Kosovo and regional developments was another topic of their talks. The two officials shared the same view that Kosovar authorities are acting with maturity orienting their country in the road of economic development and reforms as well as toward a policy of peace and harmony with neighbors and ethnic coexistence.
Premier Berisha was also present at the MEDEF “Movement of the French Enterprises” conference.
Berisha said Albania was determined to have the reforms as a guide and that it would proceed further on the way of the consolidation of the democratic institutions and the rule of law in the country.
He said that the government supported and had taken all the necessary steps for a favorable business environment.
Berisha said that Albania’s economy would withstand the consequences of the global crisis recording positive growth even for 2009.