U.S. Senate approves Albania’s Croatia’s NATO membership

WASHINGTON, Sep 27 – The U.S. embassy in Tirana called a historic moment in U.S. Albanian relations the fact that the U.S. Senate voted to approve Croatia’s and Albania’s NATO Accession Protocols to the Washington Treaty.
As one of the first countries in the NATO Alliance to vote in favor of this important document, the United States eagerly looks forward to welcoming Albania as a full partner in NATO, said a statement.
This action by the Senate has unparalleled significance, it said, adding that it represents not only a vote of confidence in one of America’s staunchest partners, but a sincere acknowledgement of the determination of the Albania government, the opposition, and most of all, the Albanian people in achieving this important milestone.
The Albanian nation undertook a major program of reform to accomplish this goal. Many reforms, however, remain to be completed and others to be launched. We, the American people, look forward to working with Albanians to finish, as President Lincoln put it ‘a task so nobly begun.’ The American commitment to Albania, so clearly demonstrated in yesterdays vote, remains strong and forward-looking.
Albanian Prime minister Sali Berisha sent a note to U.S. President George W. Bush, thanking him for his contribution to getting Albania’s NATO accession ratified by Senate.
“We thank you for your contribution towards this, and we will collaborate with all American institutions (on this),” Berisha said.
After the ratification by all 26 NATO parliaments, the two Balkan countries will likely join the alliance at its next summit in April next year.
Albania and Croatia were invited to join NATO at the alliance’s summit in Bucharest, Romania, in early April. In July, the 26 countries of the North Atlantic Council signed the accession protocols of Albania and Croatia.
Opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama also hailed the Senate decision.
The White House also welcomed the US Senate’s vote to admit Albania and Croatia into NATO, and expressed hopes that Macedonia may soon resolve its name dispute with Greece and join the alliance.
“We welcome the Senate’s ratification yesterday evening of Albania’s and Croatia’s ascension to NATO. This step recognizes the tremendous progress made by these countries in recent years,” said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
“The Senate vote underscores how these new democracies have helped to close a dark chapter in the history of the Balkans and are making strides in ensuring the entire region is peaceful, democratic, and on the path toward full Euro-Atlantic integration,” she said.
“Their membership in NATO, once ratification by other allies is completed, will be a great asset to the alliance. Both countries are already active participants in military operations, along with US forces and those of our allies,” said Perino.
“We also hope to welcome Macedonia as a member of NATO as soon as the issue of its name is resolved and to continue NATO’s enlargement process to include other allies in the future,” said Perino.
Greece vetoed an invitation for Macedonia to join NATO in August over a 17-year-old dispute about the right to the country’s name, which is shared by a northern Greek province