South - East Europe Ministers of Defense Meeting - SEDM

Published: Friday, 16 October 2020 12:28

On October 14, 2020, as the country holding the chairmanship of the SEDM (South-East Europe Defense Ministerial) Initiative Secretariat at the Ministry of Defense, a special meeting of the Ministers of Defense of Southeast Europe was held, which took place via video conferencing through the SEDM portal.

With the participation of 13 member countries, the commander of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force of Southeast Europe (SEEBRIG) as well as senior representatives from other international and regional organizations such as UNDP, SEESAC, RCC and RACVIAC, this meeting was chaired by the Deputy Defense Minister Mr. Petro Koçi, in the capacity of the chairman of the SEDM Secretariat.

The chairman of the SEDM Secretariat Mr. Koçi spoke at the beginning of this meeting regarding the situation created by COVID -19 pandemic and stressed the commitment of the countries of the region to further strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of this initiative through an increased cooperation between the member countries in this difficult time.

He presented the projects and activities held successfully during the chairmanship of the SEDM Initiative by our country from the ministerial of the last year with the main focus promotion of security and defense.

He further underlined that the MPFSEE/ Multinational Peacekeeping Force of the Southeast Europe Initiative is a history of success, as it has greatly contributed in the regional security and stability, mutual trust and in the strengthening of the good relation between the two countries of Southeast Europe.

The Commander of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force of the Southeast Europe (SEEBRIG) presented in details the previous activities carried out by the brigade for the year 2020 and also analyzed the future capacity and engagements of SEEBRIG.

The participants welcomed the achievements of SEEBRIG and confirmed the contribution of this brigade for the regional security and stability, by turning into a unique military platform for the common cooperation and training.

Furthermore, the Ministerial continued with the positions of the countries about the obligations of this initiative in the future and the mutual engagement for promoting security, peace and stability in the region.
As on the main priorities of the Initiative it was stresses by all the member countries the engagement for the strengthening of the good relation between the countries of the region as well as the cooperation in the framework of the mutual trainings and exercises.
SEDM member countries confirmed the further development of cooperation at political and intergovernmental level through common SEDM activities and projects.

At the meeting several documents regarding the projects in the framework of SEDM were approved , which concerns the Interconnection of Military Hospitals ( Interconnection of Military Hospitals Projects), SEDM Initiative Portal, and it was also approved the SEEBRIG Annual Plan and Brigade Budget for the year 2021, which will serve as a basis for the development of common activities and projects in the coming year.

The Ministerial Meeting ended with the approval of the Joint Statement of the ministers of Defense of the Southeast Europe. This was the second SEDM Ministerial chaired by Albania, under its leadership 2019 - 2021.