TIRANA, Albania - Five countries in the Balkans, including Albania and neighboring nations, are at various steps along the path to full membership in the European Union. Recent headlines – and our region’s history – serve as reminders why it is so important that all five nations join the EU, not only for our own economic futures, but also for the peace and stability of our region, our continent and the entire world.

The bailout of Cyprus is garnering much less attention than did the help provided to other struggling Euro Zone members. Cyprus is tiny, and rescue or no rescue, the euro will remain largely unaffected. Or so the argument goes.

President Barack Obama may have to battle an intransigent Republican Party for congressional approval of his domestic policies during his second term, but his more-or-less free hand in foreign policy enables him to help establish his legacy through America’s actions abroad. If his first administration focused on repairing the damage George W. Bush’s eight years as president wreaked on America’s image, his second one should concentrate on reaffirming US leadership in the world. He should begin by shoring up Washington’s relationship with its closest ally and largest trading partner: Europe.