Albania and NATO: Achievements and Perspectives

Albania’s accession to NATO constitutes a unique history of special relationship. This appears evident when we consider that there is no country in the Alliance that can base its NATO policy on a public opinion consensus exceeding 90 percent of the population.

Moreover, the history, population, culture, and geo-strategic position of Albania offer us a picture of a peculiar country that since the Italian Pelican and Alba operations in the Nineties as become today a "security provider" able to contribute worldwide to the major NATO and European Union peacekeeping operations.

Few nations experienced the profound transformation accomplished by Albania in recent years, while playing a crucial role in supporting Allied efforts to end the humanitarian tragedy in Kosovo and secure peace in the region.

Albania underwent a unique isolation and definitely put an end to 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule in 1991. At that time, a multiparty democratic Parliament was established and Western freedoms and values naturally became a common heritage of a country ready to resume its role in the international community.

In spite of the dramatic events that struck the Western Balkans during the Nineties, Democracy in Albania strengthened its roots and grew quickly, overcoming also some "youthful errors".

This historical process required vision, leadership, and an extraordinary commitment on the part of the Albanian population.

The analysis of the Albanian community outlines another peculiar aspect of this country. In fact, Albania constitutes the only country in the world whose borders are surrounded by a population sharing the same nationality. (Out of 6.5 million Albanians, only 3.6 are living in their homeland). This peculiarity provides Albania with a key geopolitical role in the region and greater responsibilities for the stabilization and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans.

Unlike other tragic experiences in the region, the Albanian culture was always open to different religious affiliations, which were never considered to be a threat or a dividing factor.

The satellite antennas that dot the Albanian towns testify to the longing for free and pluralistic information issuing from a public opinion that since the early Nineties has strongly supported the Euro-Atlantic integration process.

The Bucharest Summit Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government on 3 April 2008 states, at para. 19, that the "invitation to Albania and Croatia to … join our Alliance marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Western Balkans and shows the way forward to a future in which a stable region is fully integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions and able to make a major contribution to international security". Among the countries belonging to the former Eastern bloc, Albania was the first to apply for NATO membership. Since it has joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992 (renamed Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997), the Euro-Atlantic integration has always been a major goal of all Albanian Governments and political parties.

Looking back, the way paved by Albania toward NATO membership appears impressive: in 1994 Albania expanded its relationship with NATO joining the Partnership for Peace (PfP); during the same year, the Atlantic Council of Albania was established, bringing together the best representatives of the political, diplomatic, military, academic, and economic fields, as well as the new generations.

From the very beginning I had the privilege to cooperate with the Atlantic Council of Albania (ACA) and to advocate in 1994 its membership to the Atlantic Treaty Association.

Today, I would like to commend the leadership and the Board of ACA for the extraordinary record and level of initiatives conducted over the last 15 years. In spite of national and regional difficulties, ACA’s activities were steadily taking place and have been of crucial relevance in promoting into the international community the Albanian vision and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

In 1995, Albania developed the first Individual Partnership Program (IPP) and in 1996 the country entered the Planning and Review Process (PARP).

In the same year, Albanian forces joined the NATO-led SFOR peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bilateral cooperation with NATO increased progressively in the light of the country’s membership aspirations.

In parallel, Albania played a crucial role in supporting Allied efforts to end the humanitarian tragedy in Kosovo and in contributing to the stability of the region after the air campaign.

On the occasion of the Washington Summit in April 1999, Albania achieved the Membership Action Plan (MAP) and became a NATO aspirant member country together with Croatia and the FYR Macedonia.

Since 1999, Albania was engaged in 8 MAP cycles and in April 2008 the NATO Heads of State and Government meeting in Bucharest invited Albania to start Accession talks with the Alliance.

NATO Allies signed protocols on Albania’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty on 9 July 2008. Thereafter, the ratification process in the Allied capitals started. The Italian Parliament ratification took place on 22 December 2008.

The MAP targets and requirements were focused on 5 main areas: political, economic defense, legal, finance, and information security. These requirements together with the Partnership Goals and Force Goals – to be accomplished in the PfP PARP framework – required a deep reform of the Albanian institutions and Armed Forces.

The Albanian Armed Forces adopted a new Long Term Development Plan 2020 (LTDP) aimed at achieving a modern, motivated, and fully professional force already next year.

Thanks to this transformation, the Albanian Armed Forces are today contributing to all major NATO and European Union peacekeeping operations, ranging from ISAF to Althea and from Georgia to Iraq.

Albanian membership in NATO parallels and complements the country’s efforts to join the European Union. At present, Albania is officially listed as "Potential Candidate" of the European Union and has already been granted in 2007 the Instrument of Pre-Accession (IPA).

In this respect, let me say that Italy is a special partner in supporting the Albanian integration process in the European Union, just as it always supported Albanian membership in NATO.

Moreover, Italy is the 1st Albanian trading partner, amounting to 35% of the Albanian trade; the 1st investor in terms of number of companies; and the 1st donor.

Additionally, the trade balance between Albania and Italy increases regularly by an average of 6% per year.

Furthermore, the Italian Delegation of Experts testifies to the successful cooperation established on the military sector.

Finally, relevant new investments pertain to the energy sector and infrastructures.

In a few days, the Albania’s full NATO membership will mark the extraordinary results that this young democracy has been able to achieve during these difficult years as the outcome of a hard and coherent integration process.

However, the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit does not represent the end of Albania’s commitment to NATO. Indeed, it opens a new qualitative phase in the contribution of Albania to the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

For instance, Albania is called to assume wider responsibilities in the stabilization of the Western Balkans and in their perspective of full integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions. The Albanians living in Kosovo and in FYR Macedonia can play a crucial role in this respect.

Moreover, the new NATO status enhances the extraordinary geo-strategic position of Albania, which represents the door of the Balkans to the Mediterranean and the crossroads of the pipelines that from the Caucasus will secure Europe’s energy supplies.

After 18 years, Albania is an "adult" and mature democracy that is presently ready to assume new responsibilities in the region as well as in the wider international security scenario.

As a representative of a NATO founding member-country, I am not here today to welcome you, but to thank you for the contribution that you are ready to offer to the security of my country and of the Alliance. 

Intervento del Segretario generale del Comitato Atlantico Italiano, Fabrizio W. Luciolli, alla 13^ Conferenza Internazionale del Consiglio Atlantico Albanese, che si è svolta a Tirana il 20 marzo 2009.