Albania PM Talks Balkans and Security With Obama

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama scored a propaganda coup on Thursday with a meeting with US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in Washington.

Officially held to mark the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, the two leaders discussed terrorism, Albania's role in the Balkans - and baseball among other matters.

Diplomatic ties between Albania and the US were interrupted when the Enver Hoxhas's Communists took over Albania at the end of World War II.

 Since the collapse of the Communist regime in the 1990s, however, Albania has been a firm supporter of the US and its policies in the Balkans.

Albania's role in the Balkan region was one of the main topics at the meeting in Washington.

"The President and Vice President expressed appreciation for the critical role Albania plays in advancing regional security and reaffirmed the importance of keeping the door open to Euro-Atlantic integration for stability in the Balkans," the White House said.

"Albania is now a point of reference in the Balkans and one of the most important actors in the region. We appreciate this role and totally support you," the Albanian government quoted Obama as telling Rama.

Rama said he considered the Balkans "a success story of American foreign policy" and emphasized that his country wants to open a new page in the story of regional collaboration.

"Albania is pro-American country and a serious partner in NATO," Rama added.

The contribution of Albania to the fight against Islamic State, ISIS, as a rare majority-Muslim country in Europe, was another topic of discussion.

Rama told Obama about the opening in Tirana of a regional center designed to curb violent extremism, an initiative mulled over...