Defence Minister Kodheli attends Comprehensive Regional Ministerial

02 October 2013

The Minister of Defence, Ms. Mimi Kodheli, since October 01, 2013, is in Brdo, Kranj, Slovenia, participating in the Comprehensive Regional Ministerial 2013, which includes two meetings: the US-Adriatic Charter Ministerial (A-5), and the South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM).

On the first day, Defence Minister Ms. Mimi Kodheli held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence of the United States of America, Ms.  Evelyn Farkas.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence, Ms. Farkas congratulated Minister Kodheli for her new office as Minister of Defence, while Minister Kodheli assessed the excellent relations between the Republic of Albania and the United States of America, noting that the Ministry of Defence and the Albanian government considers the U.S. government as a key strategic partner in foreign policy and cooperation in the field of defence. Minister Kodheli praised the continuous support the USA has given to the process of reform and transformation of the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF), helping them to achieve NATO standards for defence capabilities and military modernization.

From her side, Ms. Farkas focused especially on some issues that require the increase of cooperation level in the future, mentioning the cooperation in the field of intelligence, training and qualification of the Armed Forces personnel, aiming the increase of professional standards of the military. She also stressed that the phenomenon of corruption and fight against it remains one of the areas that require priority for the Ministry of Defence.

Minister Kodheli assured the senior representative of the U.S. Department of Defence, for her determination as defence minister and of the Albanian government for commitment against negative phenomena, putting the main focus on the fight against corruption, increase of professionalism and de-politicization of the institution of the Ministry of Defence. Minister Kodheli also outlined the priorities of the Ministry of Defence mentioning the implementation of the conclusions and recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, a document drawn up with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Defence, the continuation of the AAF reformation and fulfilment of all obligations as a NATO member country. Minister Kodheli assured the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence that Albania will continue to stay in Afghanistan for as long as NATO and the USA will be there, coordinating every action with the USA in the future. Albania will play its role within the Adriatic Charter Initiative, as well as in other initiatives promoting the values and required standards by other countries in the process of NATO membership, - said Defence Minister Kodheli.

Defence Minister Kodheli also held a meeting with the Minister of Defence of Slovenia, Mr. Roman Jakič. At the meeting, Mr. Roman Jakič congratulated Ms. Kodheli for her new office as Minister of Defence, while Minister Kodheli firstly, congratulated Minister Roman Jakič for the initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Defence of Slovenia to organize, for the first time, a Comprehensive Regional Ministerial gathering all the defence ministers of South-Eastern Europe and beyond in two ministerials on various topics at the same time and place, further highlighting that other countries should continue this initiative of Slovenia. Minister Kodheli assessed the excellent relations between the Republic of Albania and Slovenia.

Both defence ministers agreed to increase cooperation in the field of defence, more specifically, cooperation in facing civil emergencies, participation in joint exercises, training and exchange of experience in the framework of mountain exercises. During the meeting, both ministers also assessed the cooperation between our two countries in the framework of regional initiatives where Albania and Slovenia are part of, SEDM and A-5.