Greece pledges support for Albania's EU, NATO bids

Greece pledges support for Albania's EU, NATO bids

"We are ready to help (Albania) with its efforts to implement the necessary reforms and commitments it has undertaken to the European Union," Karamanlis said. 

The small Balkan country took its first step toward possible E.U. membership in June, signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and also hopes to be invited to become a full NATO member by 2008. 

Karamanlis and Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha also discussed ways of boosting economic and political ties, as well as police and military co-operation. 

Berisha - who ends a two-day visit to Greece Wednesday - said discussions included the rights of the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania, and of the estimated 600,000 Albanian immigrants living in Greece. 

He said his government would "seriously discuss" a Greek proposal to establish a rail link between the two countries. 

Earlier Wednesday, the two countries' energy ministers signed a deal on bilateral energy co-operation.