Turkish parliament approves Albania’s NATO membership

ANKARA, Turkey, Nov 26 – Turkish parliament on Wednesday ratified Albania’s membership in NATO, during a ceremony attended by Albania’s President Bamir Topi, there on a visit to meet Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
NATO hopes that Albania and Croatia will be able to join the alliance during its summit next year. However, parliamentary ratification procedures could delay their membership during that event, which will mark NATO’s 60th anniversary.
NATO invited the two Balkan nations to join the alliance at its summit in Romania earlier this year.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that the balanced policies pursued by Albania brought stability to the Balkans, adding, “as a Balkan country, we attach great importance to stability, security and prosperity in the Balkans. Therefore, the ties of cooperation between Turkey and Albania are very important.”
Gul said, “Balkan geography, especially Albania, has a significant and a prior place in Turkey’s foreign policy. Turkey has always supported Albania and Albanian people, and will continue to do the same in the future.”
President Gul described Albania as a country of key importance in the Balkans.
Topi said that Kosova was a sovereign, independent and free country and Kosova reality was an unchangeable fact.
“No scenario can break Kosova into pieces,” Topi told a joint press conference with Gul in Ankara, adding that more countries should acknowledge Kosova.
Turkey recognized Kosova’s independence immediately after the country declared its independence on February 17, 2008.
Turkish investments in Albania had increased by four-folds in the last three years and two countries could boost their cooperation in infrastructure projects, education and health.
Gul could visit Albania in spring.