Defense Minister Niko Peleshi held a video conference with Albanian troops on peacekeeping missions around the world

Published: Friday, 29 December 2023 14:29

Defence Minister Niko Peleshi and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Arben Kingji held an video conference with the Albanian servicemen who contribute to our missions abroad.
As he congratulated them for the end of the year holidays, Peleshi expressed his appreciation for this part of the Armed Forces that makes all Albanians proud.
"You are the most exposed part of our international engagements. You make us proud, because you give another dimension to our commitment, not only in national defense and security, but also in the export of peace and security in collective defense. This makes us not only beneficiaries of membership in this great Alliance, but also contributors, although Albania is a small country, with modest but ever-growing and modernized capacities. That's why we want to show ourselves and give our contribution both in the operations of NATO, the United Nations, the European Union, the Multinational Military Forces, but also humanitarian and Civil Defense, as we have been in the last year in support of the countries of the region.", - said Minister Peleshi.

Defence Minister said that Albania is represented in 8 missions abroad in Iraq, South Sudan, Egypt, Latvia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Kosovo, where it has the largest presence in two locations. Peleshi spoke about the conflicts that have increased today in different areas of the globe, but also in the region. Therefore, he especially encouraged the effectives who serve in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, to contribute diligently, but also with self-restraint, so as not to fall prey to provocations and situations that may arise.



"We wish that the heated conflicts will go towards resolutions. It looks like it will be a long conflict in Ukraine. We hope that there will be an address as soon as possible on the side of good, with the victory of Ukraine. We wish that this will be a blessed and peaceful year for Kosovo and the Western Balkans region!" - said the Defence Minister.

Peleshi also spoke about defense plans and objectives for the coming year. "After a few weeks, operations will begin at the Tactical Air Base of Kuçova, which is a NATO base. We are working to include in the NATO support plans, with the Kuçova model, the construction of a port near the new port in Porto Romano, a military port that would make a decision with two important infrastructures of NATO, for training, tactical support or deployments in case of need, operations towards NATO's eastern flank. Albania is determined to play its role in the region, on the side of the West. We have only one agenda and that is the Euro-Atlantic integration" - Minister Peleshi emphasized.

On his part, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Arben Kingji, expressed his highest appreciation for the servicemen who serve in peacekeeping missions abroad, stressing that during these holidays vigilance should be greater.