German Speaker urges Albania deepen reforms

TIRANA, May 12 – German Bundestag Speaker Norbert Lammert held a three-day visit to Albania to meet not only with local top officials but also common citizens.
His daughter is engaged to an Albania immigrant in Germany.
Lammert met with President Bamir Topi, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leaders.
Lammert discreetly said that changes in Albania were a precondition for its integration into the European Union.
All countries that aim at becoming a EU member should first try to reach certain democratic standards, he said and not look for membership before doing that. He hailed Albania’s progress but also said there was still much to do. But he said that Europe was more than a joined market, a untied power. He said that was a joint big idea based on the culture, history that should always be preserved. Germany, one of the main donor countries to post-communist Albania, is expected to soon ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement the country signed with EU two years ago.(Tirana Times Staff)