US support Albania’s NATO integration efforts

TIRANA, Feb. 25 – A group of U.S. Congressmen said they strongly back Albania’s bid for NATO membership following a visit they made to Tirana and also the capitals of Croatia and Macedonia. All three countries have created the Adriatic 3 Charter as part of a joint effort to join the alliance.
“The United States Congress and administration support the fulfillment of the aspirations of Albania to become a NATO member,” said the head of the delegation, Congressman John Tanner.
He noted Albania’s contribution in the preservation of peace and stability, not only in the region but also in peacekeeping missions throughout the world and the global fight against terrorism.
Since the fall of communism in 1991, Albania has emerged as one of the staunchest U.S. allies in the Balkans. It has sent peacekeeping military units to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq as part of efforts to join NATO. Such deployments are supported by some 95 percent of Albanians, according to polls.
The visiting Congressional delegation discussed Albanian’s aspiration for NATO membership and other subjects during meeting with President Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Speaker Jozefina Topalli and the Parliamentary Committee on Security.
“The U.S. Congress is in full support, as is the administration of our country, of your aspirations for NATO Membership,” said Tanner.
“The United States Congress takes note of, is appreciative of, and supportive of the efforts that are ongoing and we urge you to keep up the good work.”
But Tanner also said that “NATO is a consensus organization. We are hopeful for an invitation but I would say is that we in Congress are supportive of your aspirations.”
Tanner said that the procedures in NATO allow that each country’s wishes to be individually addressed.
When asked whether the chaotic situation in Serbia, after Kosovo’s declaration of independence, would affect the decision regarding membership of the three (A3) Balkan countries, Tanner said that “the path to NATO membership leads to stability, peace, human rights, political stability and all of the rest. And we think that as member nations meet the qualifications for admittance to NATO, that automatically will be a good thing.”