NATO cautious on Albania's membership hopes
Published: October 19, 2007
BRUSSELS, Belgium: NATO warned Albania on Friday that it must push through more reforms of its justice and political system to win early membership in the Western military alliance.

"The invitation tickets are not punched yet; further reform is necessary," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after a meeting with Albanian's president Bamir Topi. "A lot of work will still have to be done and no guarantees can be given." Albania, along with Macedonia and Croatia, hopes to be invited to join NATO at a meeting of allied leaders next April in Bucharest, Romania.

Topi pledged that Albania would carry through the reforms and stressed the high level of support for membership among political parties and the Albanian public. "This is a very significant moment for Albania," Topi said. "I guarantee that we will deepen the reforms of the justice and electoral system, and focus attention on the fight against organized crime and corruption."


De Hoop Scheffer praised Albania's participation in NATO's military mission in Afghanistan and its "moderating voice" in the Balkans amid growing tension over the final status of Kosovo.
However, he said it was too early to judge if Albania would receive its membership invitation in Bucharest.
NATO officials say Croatia is expected to receive an invite in April, but doubts remain about the prospects for Albania and Macedonia.

Albania is one of Europe's poorest nations. Since the collapse of communist rule in 1991, it has sought to join NATO and the European Union, but its progress has been slowed by political instability and corruption.
However, Albania has developed military cooperation with the 26-nation NATO alliance and currently has 138 soldiers serving alongside NATO troops in Afghanistan.

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