Peleshi in a video conference with representatives of Albania on mission abroad: Dignified alongside NATO, we increase support for the military

Published: Friday, 30 December 2022 14:06

Defence Minister Niko Peleshi conducted an online conversation with all representatives of Albania on missions abroad. Accompanied by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Arben Kingji, Minister Peleshi congratulated them for their contribution during this year.

"During the year that we are leaving behind, your work and that of the AF, and in particular of those who are on international missions, has taken on another dimension. This was a year of bad news for security and peace, it was a year when the security was affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and this made security and peace to be the highest priority of the whole world.", - said the Defence Minister.



Mr. Peleshi started the conversation with the Mission of Albania near KFOR in Kosovo, also talking about the situation there.
"Recently, the tension has increased. You are part of KFOR, the NATO structure that guarantees security. All the phenomena that seek to create instability in the region are a derivative of what happened in February of this year in Ukraine and continues to be one of the main concerns of the world today. This event set before us tasks, which we had not thought at such close time, regarding modernization, investments in education, increasing our presence in international missions, building a stronger, more capable and more hopeful armed force for all our compatriots in Albania, but also in the region, to guarantee peace and security in the Balkans and in the entire space of the NATO Alliance.", - emphasized Minister Peleshi.

Defence Minister spoke about a new dimension that the cooperation with NATO has taken, where he mentioned the strategic alliance with the USA, but also the cooperation with the EU, highly appreciating the contribution of our representatives in these important missions: "Today, you make the entire Albanian people proud. You are also an added value in NATO. Although we are a small nation, a small ally, we want to show that we are not only consumers, but also want to contribute. We are with increased forces in NATO missions. We have a very good reputation. You have opened our eyes and given us every right to have a well-deserved position in NATO.", - said Minister Peleshi to the representatives of Albania in the international missions.



During the conversation Mr. Peleshi also spoke about the objectives that the Ministry of Defence has for 2023: "This is the year when we made a quantitative and qualitative change in the remuneration of the AF. We have increased 30% salaries for all effectives, from the basic soldier to the highest ranks. The Prime Minister's commitment and promise to have a continuous and annual growth until we reach the highest level in the region will be realized. Next year, we will increase the salary by another 7% over the 30% that was increased in 2022", said Minister Peleshi.