Pushing For NATO Membership

Officials have increased their lobbying efforts for NATO membership. Jozefina Topilla, the Speaker of the Albania parliament, has recently lobbied the Canadian government, highlighting that membership of the Alliance is an important first step towards EU entry. Albania currently has troops in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and spends 2% of its budget on the military. Rosemary DiCarlo, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary, is committed to assisting Albania's membership bid, citing it as crucial for the region's long-term stability. The outcome of Albania's bid will be decided at the April 2008 NATO

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