Brussels, 26/11/2008 (Agence Europe) -The Albanian foreign affairs minister, Lulzim Basha, has stated that his country would very soon table its application to join the EU, but did not specify when. Speaking before the press after an interview with Commissioner Olli Rehn in Brussels on Tuesday 25 November, Mr Basha said that "the time will very soon come for us to take an additional step" on the road towards European integration. There are several factors which justify Albania in taking this decision, most probably early next year, said the minister: the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) signed with the EU is well on the way towards ratification (all of the member states will have completed the procedure by the end of the year), the interim SAA is "very well applied" and Albania plays a "positive and stabilising role" in the region of the western Balkans. Commissioner Rehn wishes "neither to encourage nor discourage" the Albanian government in its application plans. However, he implicitly advised the authorities in Tirana not to be in too much of a rush, particularly as the EU is currently faced with priority problems such as the financial crisis and the Treaty of Lisbon. "Everything in its own good time", said Mr Rehn. The Commission also called for additional measures to develop a "culture of democracy" in Albania and to reinforce the rule of law, the independence of state institutions and the fight against organised crime and corruption. Amongst other things, Mr Rehn stressed the need to guarantee that the forthcoming legislative elections in 2009 are free and fair. "Preparations for and the correct running of these elections, in line with international democratic standards, is a key condition for further progress on Albania's journey towards European integration", he said. The Commission welcomes the recent adoption by the Albanian Parliament of the new electoral code. Mr Basha assured Mr Rehn that this electoral code fulfilled the EU's requirements in the field. (H.B./transl.fl)