Adriatic Charter Ministerial in Albania, Xhaçka: “Open Door Policy” our main priority

Published: Wednesday, 11 December 2019 12:30

 

The USA - Adriatic Charter countries have expressed their solidarity and full support for Albania in these difficult days, as result of the dreadful earthquake that struck the county on 26 November. The Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka, as the chairperson of the initiative for 2019, welcomed the senior representatives of the participating countries. Also, in this meeting was present the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper.

In her speech, the Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka emphasized that this period was a hard time full of pain and difficulty for the whole country, the institutions, and especially for the Ministry of Defence. It was also full of extraordinary work for managing the situation.


The Minister thanked the participants for the support they provided to Albania, emphasizing that: “Since Albania assumed the role of the Chair of the US - Adriatic Charter Initiative in January 2019, we have declared the “Open Door Policy” as our main priority. We were committed to further enhance our efforts with every opportunity to accelerate further this initiative. Today, more than ever I believe, that this is a must, because in my opinion formats like this lay the foundations of collaboration, empowerment, and the creation of a network of connections, friendships, contacts that is so important to promote and guarantee peace, stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic region”.

Minister Xhaçka also, underlined that one of the most important initiatives undertaken by the Albanian Ministry of Defence during this presidency is related to the possibility of engaging AAF in a joint mission in Iraq, within NATO, where Albania will play the role of the leading country.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper, while expressing condolences for the earthquake casualties, praised the strong friendship between USA and Albania:

"The United States together with all countries in the region stand close to Albania in this difficult situation and this brings us to this A-5 session.” This is the last meeting of the Defence Ministerial chaired by Albania, which in 2019 had the presidency. For that, Mrs. Cooper praised our country's role in chairing the A-5. “Albania is a great example to promote support in NATO operations. The security you provide continues to be important and always fits into the political and tactical aspects of the situations we face“, - said Cooper.


A-5 member countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, and the US, while observers are Kosovo, Slovenia and Serbia. Bosnia and Herzegovina takes over the initiative in 2020.