Membership of NATO is the main short-term priority of Albanian foreign policy today. Joining the Atlantic Alliance would enable us to fulfil our objectives of national and regional security, and would provide a solid starting point from which to speed up our on-going political, economic and military reforms. The day that Albania joins NATO will be a significant moment in this process. Albania has always seen membership of NATO as more than a means to improve the current security situation; it is also a goal that is conducive to our long-term development. Membership will help to consolidate the country’s democratic values and to increase national authority, as well as supporting the continued opening of our society towards regional neighbours and beyond. Some 95% of Albanians support our ambition to join NATO. Currently, after 15 years of dialogue with NATO, the Alliance considers Albania to be an aspiring member which, thanks to the MAP process, has reached the highest stage of relations short of membership. Albania has been engaged in a series of multi-dimensional reforms in the hope that the country will qualify for an invitation to join the Alliance at its Bucharest Summit in April 2008. We have taken significant steps to strengthen the rule of law and our market economy, including reform of the judicial system and a gradual improvement in domestic legislation. Albania has also stepped up the fight against corruption, organized crime, illicit trafficking, money laundering, plus other economic and financial crimes. The country has also restructured and modernized the armed forces and made further advances in the area of security and classified information. Albania also continues to establish policies to build good and constructive relations with its neighbours, while making use of the entire range of opportunities that arise from regional initiatives. NATO’s Riga Summit in November last year acknowledged the achievements of Albania and other Adriatic Charter countries, paving the way for a possible invitation to join the Alliance at the Bucharest Summit. Albania has also been developing institutional relations with the European Union for the last 15 years. It signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement, plus the trade-related Interim Agreement, with the EU in June 2006. Albania backs the political and security objectives of the Atlantic Alliance, the EU and other institutions of central and south-east Europe. Cooperation with them is helping Albania to protect and promote regional stability and confidence through dialogue and good neighbourliness. Finally, Albania is renowned for its open–hearted hospitality, humane relations, laudable religious harmony and diversified cultural development. This section is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana-Albania (tel: +355 4 230 284 / E-mail: info@cci.gov.al)
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