Military Co-operation Kosovo - Croatia-Albania, former spokeswoman NATO: They're taking responsibility for their safety.

The three countries have made it clear that their defence agreement is not directed against Belgrade, but is designed to boost their co-operation. Significantly, other countries in the region have quickly shown an interest in joining the tripartite agreement. It is encouraging that countries in the region are taking on more responsibility for their security and doing so by helping each other”, Shea said, for RTK.

Exploring development and acquisition of defence capacities through multinational co-operation, sharing of best explosives in recruiting, development and maintaining personnel to increase precautionary and protective capacities, joint exercises, strengthening steps against hybrid threats, exchanging intelligence information for prevention, and supporting Kosovo in obtaining its status in NATO's Partnership for Peace.

These are some of the provisions involving the declaration of co-operation in the field of defence and security that the defence ministers of Kosovo, Albania and Croatia signed on March 18th in Tirana.

The full agreement was published by Albanian Defence Minister Pirro Ving, on March 22nd, who wrote to X that in its history, Tirana has no precedent for secret agreements or treaties at the expense of neighbours, “sic had other states”.

Serbia, following a two-year empty chair policy in regional initiatives, has unilaterally suspended itself the possibility to promote or participate in multilateral consultations. This suspension, which is in Serbia's power to be put aside, makes vain any sacrifice ravages coming from the Serbian government”, he wrote.

The agreement on security and defence areas between Kosovo and two NATO member states, Albania and Croatia, has four points.

The first point concerns promoting defence capacities and co-operation in the respective industry.

It says that the three states will explore the development and purchase of defence capacities through multinational co-operation in order to boost the readiness of their military forces. Kosovo, Albania and Croatia also pledge to identify areas for co-operation in the defence industry, promoting access to resources and supply chains in order to have a stable and competitive defence industry.

Serbia has criticised the initiative of co-operation between the three countries, viewing it as a threat to its past “terrorist integrity”. Belgrade, which immediately requested explanation from Zagreb and Tirana for the goals of the initiative, has also accused the two states of launching an arms race in the region.

Kosovo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspore has named Serbia's objections to the defence co-operation initiative as “open violation of the Brussels Agreements”, which, according to the MPJD, “clearly predicts Serbia will not prevent Kosovo's international relations and will not pretend to speak on behalf of Kosovo in relations with other states and organisations<3>.

Serbia's “attempt to present itself as a peace-deranter in the Balkans is absurd. No state in the region and wider has contributed more to destabilising the Western Balkans than Serbia, as evidenced by historical facts and recent developments”, the MPJD said March 19th.

Croatia has responded to Serbia's criticisms, saying the time has passed when Zagreb asked Belgrade for permission to act and with whom to co-operate broadcast the telegraph.

The defence ministers of Kosovo, Albania and Croatia have said the initiative could be expanded with other states, citing the possibility that Bulgaria will become part of it.

Meanwhile, Montenegro has said it has not been invited to become part of the declaration of co-operation in the area of security and defence.

Kosovo, Albania and Croatia have signed trilateral agreements days ago in the field of defence.

Signing this agreement was made in Albania by the three defence ministers, Ejup Macedonia, Piro Veng and Ivan Anuspi.

And today the relevant ministries have started with the publication of the signed Declaration.

The full text of the declaration was later published by the Kosovo Defence Ministry.