Excerpts from Kurt Volker Interview with Top Channel

1 - Responding to Q “whether membership can be taken for granted,”

- Happy Senate ratified. Every member country should ratify. “That means, from now until the last ratification, there is a possibility for any member country to raise a problem. Therefore, it is important that Albania stay focused on and committed to reforms during this time.”

- Second, membership “is the start of the process, not the end. Albania will have responsibilities as a democratic country, as a country with a market economy, and a contributor to common security. The path to strengthen institutions is long.”

2 – Responding to Q “any country could create obstacles if it considers there is a problem in Albania”

- Consensus is needed at NATO. Any member country could raise any issue regarding NATO policies. We should work together on this

3 – Responding to Q “How problematic is a member country that has proven to be able to hold free and fair elections”

- The last election was better than those before it. We know there is a strong commitment by the government to strengthen democratic institutions to have better elections in the future…We believe Albania is on the right path, but it should continue with the long process of reforms.

4 – Responding to Q “importance of justice reform”

- Justice reform is very important. People should have confidence in an independent justice system, in independent prosecutors…Albania has done well but it should continue it.

5 – Responding to Q on “how important is it that those responsible for the Gërdec tragedy be brought to justice”

- It is important that there are investigations, it is very important that these investigations are transparent and that those responsible be found, because that is the way to avoid repetitions. Things happen, as is happening in my country with the financial crisis, but we should find ways to avoid them in the future. No country is perfect, that is why there are investigations, transparency, and reforms.