Inauguration of the National Operational Center for Civil Emergencies, Peleshi: The first step towards the establishment of a modern Civil Protection system

Published: Tuesday, 12 April 2022 14:40

 

The National Civil Emergency Operational Center of the National Civil Protection Agency is inaugurated today. It was made possible thanks to a 1 million euro grant from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
In the ceremony held on this occasion, the Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi described this as a very important investment, which brings a different high standard in the service and management of the Civil Protection system in Albania. Defence Minister Peleshi expressed the gratitude of the Albanian people for the commitment of Italy in emergency and critical situations such as the earthquake of 2019, or even during the COVID-19 pandemic:“We have high ambitions, together with the municipality of Tirana, we are supportive in this first step that will be further accompanied by a much larger program of 30 million euros, in the framework of an assistance of 95 million euros, and here Italy has the role of the leader. So, we have taken the first step towards a truly modern, contemporary civil protection system to respond in time, side by side with the municipalities that are on the first front with civil emergencies, any kind of natural disaster and to protect our citizens. ", - said during his speech, Minister Peleshi.



The Defence Minister explained that: "In this center will have its place every institution responsible for Civil Protection and as soon as the call is received for a case of disaster will be here to cooperate physically". Mr. Peleshi announced that thanks to the next project, investments will be launched in the municipalities of the country, to enable an immediate and professional response in case of fires or floods.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, the Mayor, Erion Veliaj, the Ambassador of Italy in Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, the Director of the Italian Development Cooperation Agency, Luca Maestripieri and the General Director of the National Civil Protection Agency Haki Çako.
The President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, noted the very good relations of cooperation between the two countries: “Italy is also a country hit by earthquakes. Our co-operation experience is excellent. I think this investment will serve not only to save lives, but also to prevent disasters, such as what happened in Albania in 2019 and in Italy in some cases. This is the beginning of a journey that we will make together, which will have some developments aimed at achieving European standards in the field of Civil Protection."
The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj said: “We must be prepared as if every day would happen something that might happen once in a 100 years. This is the definition of a serious nation."

The General Director of the National Civil Protection Agency, Haki Çako explained that the National Center for Operational Civil Emergencies has the capacity for 12 operators from different forces that are involved in field operations, according to different ministries, depending on the occurrence and type of emergency. According to him: "This inauguration should be the beginning of a progressive development path that will bring Albania to a sufficient degree of autonomy in emergency management."
The National Operational Center for Civil Emergencies build in a space made available by the Municipality of Tirana will improve the coordination and communication of the structures of the Civil Protection System in cases of Civil Emergencies.