“are contributing to regional stability”, says NATO Sekerinska for the Kosovo- Albania -Croatia.

NATO's top official made statements in an interview in the margins of NATO member states' meeting of defence ministers in Brussels.

“Albania and Croatia are not only reliable and valuable allies within the Alliance, they are also important contributors to regional peace and stability. They are present in KFOR, but in general are very focused on supporting this agenda in the region”, she told Beta Agency.

She added that NATO did not participate in discussions or consultations on the declaration on defence co-operation that Pristina, Tirana and Zagreb signed in March last year, but that NATO membership does not prevent countries from having additional defence agreements with third parties.

What we see in general is that, of course, the global geopolitical situation has also affected the region. You see more exercise, more defence and security investments, but we always invite allies and partners to also engage in political dialogue and resolving the remaining issues in the region. Our presence in the Western Balkans aims to support this kind of political dialogue”, the number two of the North-Atlantic Alliance said.

To that end, she added, NATO supports Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and creates an environment that is favourable for a political solution.