President Bush gives Positive signal for Albania’s NATO bid

WASHINGTON D.C., April 11- US President George W. Bush on Tuesday signed an act whereby Congress supports further NATO enlargement, calls for the timely accession of Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine and Georgia into the alliance, and approves security assistance to those countries in the fiscal year 2008.
The NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2007 reaffirms US support for continued enlargement of NATO, and designates that Croatia, Albania and Macedonia נsignatories to the US-Adriatic Charter נand former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia are eligible for assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994, the statement said, adding that the Act authorised funds for security assistance to those countries in the fiscal year 2008.
The House of Representatives passed the Act on March 6 and the Senate on March 16, and with President Bush’s signature it became effective.
“Contingent upon their continued implementation of democratic, defense, and economic reform, and their willingness and ability to meet the responsibilities of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a clear expression of national intent to do so, Congress calls for the timely admission of Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, and Ukraine to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to promote security and stability in Europe,” read the Act.
According to conclusions adopted at the last NATO summit in Riga, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania, which have been participating in NATO’s Membership Action Plan since 2002, may expect an invitation to join NATO at the next summit in the first half of 2008.