Italy Backs Albania's NATO Accession

Tirana_ Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has given his strong backing to Albania’s aspiration to join NATO at a meeting with his Albanian counterpart on Wednesday.

Prodi expressed his appreciation for Tirana’s policy on organized crime and corruption, and encouraged Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha to push through reforms required for his country’s integration into the EU.

After the meeting Berisha declared that he was pleased with the support he had received from Prodi at their meeting in New York.

“The Italian Prime Minister assured me of his country’s active support for Albania’s integration into NATO”, he said, according to a press release from his office.

Albania is hoping to receive a formal invitation from next year's NATO summit in Bucharest to join the Alliance.

Berisha also held talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who restated Turkey’s support for the independence of Kosovo, through the implementation of the plan drawn up by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

Erdogan acknowledged Tirana’s reforms, especially in fiscal matters, as a major thrust to attract Turkish companies into investing in Albania.

“Many Turkish companies already operate in Albania while others are interested in following suit”, said Erdogan.

Berisha is taking part in New York in the 62nd assembly of the United Nations.

On Thursday he took part in the opening of the world leaders’ summit organized in view of the “Clinton Global Initiative,” which aims to tackle major challenges through active engagement in fields like energy, education and climate change.

The meeting was attended by over a thousand global decision makers from politics, the economy and civil society.(BIRN)