Prime Minister Sali Berisha departed today for Chicago to attend the 25-th North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit of Heads of State and Government on May 20-21.

PM Berisha heads Albania delegation composed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Edmond Haxhinasto, Minister of Defense Arben Imami and other top officials.

On the first day of the proceedings, the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is scheduled to extend a doorstep statement and deliver an official greeting. PM Berisha will attend the opening session of the North Atlantic Council meeting the agenda of which carries the ceremony honoring NATO military personnel for service in operational theatres of the Alliance.

In the follow-up sessions, PM Berisha and the other leaders of the Alliance member countries will attend the Meeting on Afghanistan and that on NATO building capacities.

Also attending the summit will be the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other dignitaries.