US ambassador calls for coordinated efforts toward EU integration

TIRANA, Aug. 29 – US Ambassador in Tirana Alexander Arvizu called on Albanian political parties and their politicians to join efforts in a coordinated way in the path toward integration into the European Union.
Arvizu held two meetings this week which he exploited to make his appeal.
In a meeting with Albanian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Edmond Haxhinasto he said that US supports Albania′s integration into the European Union.
They discussed on the political situation in the country, on the EU integration process and the proceedings of the General Assembly of the UN, held in September.
Haxhinasto said they had discussed on the important issues of the bilateral agenda between Albania and the United States. “In the framework of the continuous consultation we discussed issues of common interest in the next Assembly of the United Nations. Also, we talked about the political situation in the country, on the need for a National Pact for Integration, which will have as main objective the implementation of twelve national priorities. This means that all sides of politics should be involved in a process of unconditional respect and implement precisely those priorities that the EU has set before Albania and Albanians, this also in the spirit of the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR on recent elections.”
Arvizu said, “The U.S. strongly supports Albania’s efforts in this direction. What is important for national integration is a necessary consensus.”
Arvizu said that the process of integration is something that should be considered between the country’s political parties which should find a national consensus and unification of the stand and the goals.
In a meeting with Tirana’s new Mayor Lulzim Basha Arvizu mentioned the fact that Washington has had good cooperation with Tirana mayors and also with Basha himself in all his posts in the public administration, including his job while in Kosovo. He said they discussed on the ways how “to improve the life of the Tirana citizens” where one third of the country’s population live.
Albania has applied for the candidate status in the EU since two years ago. It got a negative answer last year and the political developments in the country till now show it will very likely have the same response this year too.
In early November the European Commission brings out the national progress report.
Last year it set 12 key points the tiny western Balkan country should have worked upon this year.
But the political developments and the fight between the governing Democratic Party and the main opposition Socialist Party have let little space to hope for.
The political agenda runs on top of the recommendations and complying with the EU’s Copenhagen criteria on that is fundamental.
But there have been voices and calls from Brussels as well that the country should work upon the 12 recommendations.
Haxhinasto has often said that there is still time to complete those requests.
In September the political life resumes after the summer vacations.
Will the EU integration be a top priority for the country, or the political parties have yet to resolve their disputes before?