Official visit of minister Peleshi to United Kingdom welcomed by Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace

Published: Monday, 17 July 2023 09:12

Defense Minister Niko Peleshi is paying an official visit to United Kingdom. He was received by the Secretary of State for Defense, Ben Wallace.

Mr. Peleshi expressed his gratefulness to the Ministry of Defense of UK for the support given to the Albanian Armed Forces. Meanwhile, Secretary Wallace expressed his readiness for the intensification of this collaboration within the Alliance, but also within the framework of bilateral and regional cooperation.

Defense Minister Niko Niko Peleshi was also received by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, Baroness Goldie DL. Both ministers signed the Joint Declaration on the Increase of Bilateral Cooperation in the field of Defense, a document which aims to strengthen the current cooperation, to identify new areas of cooperation facing challenges as well as adapting to the innovations that time and the increasingly competitive and complex environment brings. As two NATO members, the ministers reaffirmed their determination to contribute to the international security, including their continuing support for Ukraine, as well as the increasing commitment to the security of the Western Balkans and the southern wing of NATO.

Another meeting was reserved for Minister Peleshi by the head and several members of the Multiparty Parliamentary Group for Albania, where were discussed the latest developments in the Western Balkans region. During this meeting, Minister Peleshi emphasized that Albania's foreign policy is more oriented towards good neighborhood, security and stability of the Western Balkans.

Minister Peleshi was hosted in a special meeting by Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach, an old friend of the Albanian Armed Forces During this meeting have been discussed issues of interest to the development, security, stability of the Western Balkans, Albania's role in the region, where special attention was paid to Kosovo.