Remarks by U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers II NATO Ambassadors – SP Leadership Round Table on Bucharest Summit (March 28, 2008)
 
Thank you very much for those very thoughtful and insightful remarks. I would also like to thank you for convening Ambassadors who represent the NATO countries here today. I think I can say on behalf of all us that it is very important for us to have as deep an understanding of Albania’s aspirations as possible and your speech with its deep and thoughtful words assist all of us for a greater understanding.
 
We gather here today at a time of sorrow for you and for the Albanian people. The tragedy at Gerdec affects everyone in this country and I can say that it affects all of us here, your friends. And we all share your desire to get to the bottom of that incident. We are also all aware here that as a result of that incident, that we are gathered in a time of political controversy; you have made reference to that in your speech. We are aware that that controversy places special pressures and special burdens particularly on those parties, those political parties that stand in opposition at this moment. Your constituencies, naturally enough will be seeking action. And they will be looking to you for that action and for it to take place immediately.
 
That you are able to keep those pressures and those calls for action in perspective, in light of the coming Bucharest Summit, and the important decision that it will make for NATO enlargement is a great tribute to you and to your leadership in the Albanian State. I take it as an act of political courage that you are able to maintain that perspective at this complicated moment. But not only an act of political courage but as an act of statesmanship.
 
To put the national objective of Albania and the Albanian people first is a great tribute to you and I salute you for it.
 
You would be aware that just yesterday President Bush stated his support for inviting all of the members of the A3 at the Bucharest Summit. That is a long standing position of my government and we hope that it will be successful in a few days time. But in reaching that position my government is very well aware of your role and the role of the opposition parties in strengthening your case for an invitation at the Bucharest Summit.
 
Should that invitation come, and we hope it will, my government will not see that invitation as the result of efforts of any one particular group but as an achievement of Albania’s political leadership as a whole and as a success of the Albanian people as a whole. I thank you all very much for your attention.