Albania to hire former U.S. homeland security chief as consultant

Albania is to hire Tom Ridge, the former American Homeland Security Secretary, to be an adviser to the country's prime minister on a range of issues including security, NATO membership and investments.

"Mr. Ridge has agreed to be an adviser to this prime minister and the Albanian government," Prime Minister Berisha, standing side by side with Ridge, told reporters on Monday.

"Our cooperation includes the integration of Albania into NATO, national security strategy and the fight against organized corruption and crime," Berisha added.

Albania has strenuously applied for NATO membership for years. It is expected to receive an invitation to join the club at the 2008 NATO Summit.

A government spokesman told reporters that Ridge would form his own team of experts who would also provide their advice.

Ridge, 61, was appointed by U.S. President George W. Bush to coordinate homeland security after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. He was named the head of the department a year later and stepped down in December 2004.

Ridge will begin his work this month, and he would visit Albania every two months, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua