Tirana hails new and past NATO leaders

TIRANA, Aug. 3 – Albanian President Bamir Topi and Prime Minister Sali Berisha hailed new NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Rasmussen took the post at the beginning of this month after his predecessor, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, completed his four-year term.
“The Albanian people and Albania, the alliance’s newest member, are determined to maximally contribute for achieving joint goals and values to defend long-term regional and global freedom, peace and stability, responsible of being appropriate allies and friends for all NATO member countries,” wrote Topi.
Berisha expressed his hope that under Rasmussen NATO would have new achievements for peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond.
Berisha also invited Rasmussen for a visit to Albania.
They also wrote to Scheffer who was leading the alliance last April when Albania became a full NATO member.
Topi expressed his gratitude for his important role in supporting Albania’s membership.
“Albanians will always remember you as Albania’s major and distinguished friend who as Secretary general was at the wheel of the Alliance, powerfully supported and also saw the realization of the nation’s dream and return to the Euro-Atlantic family, Albania’s membership into NATO, but also the other major event for our nation and peace and security in the Balkans, Kosovo’s independence,” wrote Berisha.