Meeting on Albania’s reform toward NATO

TIRANA, March 3 – Albanian parliament organized Saturday a meeting entitled “Toward NATO membership 2008: responsibilities and obligations.” The meting discussed on the country’s reforms in the military and further. There was a NATO delegation headed by NATO Assistant Secretary-general John Colston. Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli said that “all achievements in the fight against organized crime, corruption and rule of law go in parallel with our goal of integration because we are convinced that no country could build a safer life.” Prime Minister Sali Berisha reconfirmed his governments and his country’s will to take further reforms to achieve membership next year. “NATO integration remains one of the main pillars of our foreign policy and that of security,” said Berisha, who also mentioned the fact that most of Albanians, or 95 percent, more than any other country in the region, want to integrate into NATO. “Albanians are proud their military and civil units take part in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia alongside armies of our allies of NATO and the U.S.,” he said. Berisha said the government aimed at increasing their numbers at the NATO command, in Afghanistan and looking forward to take part in Lebanon. “The Albanian government remains determined to take to the end all the required reforms for the northern alliance so that Albania deserves the invitation at the next enlargement NATO summit,” he said.