Defence ministers gather in Tirana, discuss Iber-Lepenc attack

Defence ministers of the US-Adriatic Initiative member states held their next meeting in Tirana today.

They discussed defence and security in the Western Balkans as they stopped at the latest attack in Kosovo.

Albania's Defence Minister Pirro Veng, who led the ministerial in his address, also stopped in the recent attack on Kosovo, which he described as dangerous to the stability of the region.

“We considered a series of hybrid-like risks and challenges and added attention received the criminal attack the previous few days in Zubin Potok, on the critical infrastructure of the Republic of Kosovo. While I find the occasion to repeat our solidarity with the state of Kosovo, all countries condemned this dangerous attack for regional security and stability and demanded bringing responsibles to justice”, Pirro Veng said.

For Albania's Defence Minister because of the geopolitical situation in this ministerial situation, Kosovo must be involved.

Kosovo's “for us membership remains an absolute priority, but also to be more pro-active in joint NATO commitments, specifically in the Alliance's Advanced Forces in Southeast Europe; Mission for training, assistance and support to Ukrainian forces; NATO's mission to Iraq; but a contributor to the European Union's common security and defence agenda, as well. in Mission A LTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, the minister added.

While senior US official Celeste Wilder stressed the importance of new NATO memberships.

“The US continues to support those countries which aspire to become NATO member states. So our commitment to NATO's open door policies remains steadfast. We also see that North Korea, China, Iran and Russia actually bring us a series of authoritarian regimes that require them to undermine international norms and destabilise the security of the entire world. Today I felt good when I heard the discussions we did to expand our defence co-operation”, Celeste Wallander said.