U.S. General for the situation in the north: Disturbing Avoiding Stability Efforts

These comments he has made while talking about recent developments in northern Kosovo, during an interview in Tirana with Voice of America.

General Hokanson has said that everything is already normalising, while stressing that it is important that all leaders be transparent in their conversations.

“at any time, there is a concern for violence, we are very worried about it. Of course, our priority is peace and stability in the region, and from all data it seems that everything is normalising. I know there's continuous dialogue. I think it's very important that all leaders be transparent in their conversations”.

“Actually, we want to focus on peace and stability in the region so that our citizens can make progress and our countries can progress. And everything that turns away from this is something that we all have to worry about”, he said.

Among other things, Hokanson has added that violence reduction has been seen and “we hope we can continue this”.

The importance of KFOR, not just of the United States, but of forces of other nations, is there to help preserve peace”, the American general has said.

Total interview:

Voice of America: General Hokanson, first of all, would like to know what the purpose of your visit to Albania is? Did you have any concrete issues you discussed with Albanian authorities?

General Hokanson: My visit here is actually to strengthen our excellent bilateral relations. As commander of the National Guard, we have had a long-term relationship between the National Guard of New Jersey and the Albanian Army. In fact, when you look at the support we receive from Albania as the United States and as NATO, it is an excellent opportunity to come here and thank you, your country for much of what you've done. It is also an opportunity to visit your beautiful country. So every opportunity I have is good to do this personally and to mention to your leaders how important Albania is to the United States.

Voice of America: You mentioned Albania's partnership with the National Guard of New Jersey. What have Albanian armed forces so far benefited from this partnership, where is it focused?

General Hokanson: If you look at the partnership, I think it benefits not only Albania's army, but the United States military as well. We view these as mutually beneficial relationships. Through soldiers and our air forces trained together, we have an opportunity to share much of what we have learned, but we have also learned a lot from your soldiers and air forces, especially the environment in which they operate.

Back in 1995, when New Jersey started training with Albania for the first time, which was then formalised under our State Partnership Programme in 2001, since then we've conducted 500 training exchanges that have been extremely useful to both sides. And when we look back at that time, since 2001, Albania has moved forward becoming an ally in NATO in 2009 and now is an important supporter, not only in everything that is happening in the region within the Balkans but also in the world. Especially the support you have given Ukraine together with the United States. Also, our chances of working together for Defender 21, Defender 23, and now we look forward to Defeder 25.

Voice of America: General Hokanson, this visit of yours, coincides with the 23th Grand Defender exercise, which for the second time views Albania as one of the host countries. How important is this to Albania and its armed forces?

General Hokanson: It's absolutely important. When you watch being an ally NATO and the responsibilities and expectations there, the ability to be trained in Defender 23 and then in the future at Defender 25, allows the US, Albania and other NATO allies to work for interaction, their ability to work together in joint operations if ever needed.

By doing these exercises together, we train, we learn to work side by side with each other. And I think that makes both of our armed forces and our allies in NATO much stronger.

Voice of America: For over a year, the world has been looking at Russian aggression in Ukraine. Meanwhile, and the Balkans are seen as a weak link because of Russian influence in the region. You are a member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. In your view, how endangered are the balances still fragile in the Balkans?

General Hokanson: When we see Ukraine's unprotested invasion of Russia and the disaster they're causing humanitarian disaster we see towards Albania and its strong support from the very beginning. I think all of us, our armies, are there to defend the sovereignty of our nation, to protect our citizens. I think of resistance together, especially as we have seen with Albania, say we disagree with this aggression and we will rise against it. The support we're giving Ukraine, I think, sets a very good example, that we are for the sovereignty of nations and the protection of their territorial borders and the protection of their citizens.

Voice of America: And speaking of the Balkans, are you concerned about recent developments in Kosovo, where the United States has a military presence within KFOR? The United States decided to suspend Kosovo's participation in Defender 23, and you were in Serbia those days, as Ambassador Hill told Voice of America in an interview...

General Hokanson: At any time, there is a concern about violence, we are very concerned about it. Of course, our priority is peace and stability in the region, and from all data it seems that everything is normalising. I know there's continuous dialogue. I think it's very important that all leaders be transparent in their conversations. In fact, we want to focus on peace and stability in the region so that our citizens can move forward and our countries can progress. And everything that turns away from this is something that we all have to worry about.

But it seems to me that leaders are talking and we have seen a reduction in violence and hopefully we can continue. Of course, KFOR's importance, not only of the United States, but of forces of other nations, is there to help preserve peace.

Voice of America: General Hokanson, thank you very much.

General Hokanson: Thank you. It's wonderful to be here in your beautiful place and I look forward to the next two days.