Adriatic Charter, Defence Ministers meet in Tirana: We support Albania and the Initiative to expand with new members

Published: Wednesday, 11 December 2019 19:47

 

Defence Ministers of the Adriatic Charter A-5 were committed to build joint capacities against natural disasters. In the final statement of the meeting in Tirana, the Ministers of the Adriatic Charter countries, urged by the consequences of the November 26 earthquake disaster in Albania, expressed their solidarity for these difficult times. The A-5 Ministers agreed to support the membership of all Southeast European countries in Euro-Atlantic structures.

Considering the new multidimensional security challenges, the Adriatic Charter countries underlined the common need to improve coordination, information exchange and capacity building for peace, security and stability in our region and in the Euro-Atlantic region as a whole.
The A-5 ministers approved in principle Albania's proposal for a joint mission in Iraq in 2020.


During a joint statement with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs Laura Cooper, Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka expressed her gratitude that part of the discussions at this Ministerial was dedicated to the difficult situation Albania is going through after the tragic earthquake of November 26th.

Minister Xhaçka said that the discussions were focused on the security situation in our region that we are currently facing.
Minister Xhaçka emphasized: "I had the opportunity to assure my colleagues that Albania, in line with this policy, will continue to provide its unconditional support for Kosovo's accession as a member state on the Initiative."

On her part, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Laura Cooper praised Albania's role in the forum.
"A lot of work has been done so far, but more work is ahead. We will continue to try to address those emergent security challenges and support precisely the aspirations of these countries such as Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, etc. Not only do they have the capacity to bring us to these forums, but mostly they have the courage to show and share with us a better future,” said the senior US official.