Netherlands Supports “Euro-Atlantic Prospect for Albania”

THE HAGUE, 10/01/08 – Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has indicated he is positive on NATO membership for Albania. EU membership is also an option providing all criteria are met.
“The Netherlands supports the Euro-Atlantic prospect for Albania,” said Verhagen following a visit to The Hague by his Albanian counterpart Basha. They discussed the results of the reforms that have been put in motion in Albania.
On the “possible accession to NATO,” Verhagen said that Albania “will be assessed on the progress of the reforms.” NATO member countries’ foreign ministers will discuss this in March.
The Netherlands does say that “further reforms in the area of the constitutional state, democracy and fighting crime and corruption are crucially important for Albania, all the more so because the country also wants to join the European Union.”
Verhagen stresses that the Netherlands “sticks strictly to the accession criteria for new member states that have been laid down by the EU.” The Netherlands will apply these criteria “rigorously but fairly.”
The Netherlands “values the contribution that Albania makes to regional stability in the Balkans.” Verhagen also said relations between the Netherlands and Albania are “broadening, and more attention will be paid to political, economic and cultural cooperation.”