Peleshi at the Ministerial of Defense in Brussels: EU and NATO with clear messages for the situation in Kosovo

Published: Thursday, 12 October 2023 13:23

The latest developments in the North of Kosovo took a special attention at the meeting of Defense Ministers of the NATO countries, which was held at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
As part of this meeting, Minister Niko Peleshi expressed the commitment of our country to the implementation of the decisions taken at the Vilnius Summit on the development of regional plans and the new structure of the forces, as well as emphasized the importance of the realization of defense plans, to guarantee the Alliance from possible threats. In implementation of the new model of NATO forces, the new structure of the Armed Forces has been approved, and we will contribute to the implementation of the plans by adapting our practices and making available critical infrastructure such as the Kuçova Base, the Port of Porto Romano and the construction of Corridor VIII.

According to Minister Peleshi: "Albania has a clear political will and will continue to support with a comprehensive approach, measures to strengthen deterrence and defense, further increasing the contribution to operations and missions such as in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, in NATO's Enhanced Vigilance in Bulgaria, Romania and the Mediterranean Sea."



Focusing on the situation in the Western Balkans, Minister Peleshi during his speech strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the North of Kosovo, as an attempt to destabilize the region. Moreover, he added, Belgrade's reaction by heroizing the attackers of September 24th in Banjska as well as the sending of troops and military capacities close to the borders of Kosovo are unacceptable events, therefore the EU in particular must take a firm attitude to such acts and to speak openly to the Serbian government. Minister Peleshi stressed that NATO and the EU should do more for the Balkans. The language and messages conveyed by the entire Western community must be clear and balanced, even in light of recent dynamics.
Mr. Peleshi emphasized that our country fully supports KFOR mandate and is intensively engaged with the allies to prevent an escalation of the situation, contributing at the same time to the facilitation of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. However, according to Minister Peleshi, a political decision-making is seen as necessary to improve and maximize the commitment of KFOR in Kosovo by improving the cooperation with the main interested parties. "KFOR must intensify patrols along the Kosovo-Serbia border in synchronization with the Kosovo Police, which remains the first security responder in the entire territory of Kosovo, as well as with EULEX", said Mr. Peleshi.

In the attention of the Ministerial of Ministers of Defense of the NATO countries was also the stable support for Ukraine, in its efforts against Russian aggression.
The allies expressed their solidarity with Israel, unanimously condemning the attacks, hostage-taking and killing of civilians due to Hamas attacks. The Minister of Defense of Croatia, Mr. Mario Banožić, expressed the position of our countries in full solidarity with Israel on behalf of the Ministers of Defense of Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia. He condemned the terrorist attacks and appreciated the country's right to defend itself proportionally against these unjustifiable acts of terror. Our countries will always have the same support as the Alliance against such acts that affect Euro-Atlantic security.

During the proceedings of this meeting, some of the allied countries also signed the Letter of Intent, regarding the multinational initiative to ease cross-border restrictions in the airspace of the allied countries, for NATO's air activities. All countries engage in the framework of measures to increase the operationality and implementation of defense plans for the creation of procedural facilities in the use of airspace.