After being sworn in by the President, Mr. Pirro Vengu assumes his duties as the new Minister of Defense

Published: Wednesday, 31 July 2024 10:31

 

Today, Mr. Pirro Vengu officially took office as the new Defence Minister, after being sworn in on the Constitution of the Republic before President Bajram Begaj. The handover was marked by a special ceremony where Mr. Niko Peleshi, the outgoing Defence Minister, passed on his duties.

In his speech, Minister Pirro Vengu praised his predecessor for the work accomplished and the progress made in Defense and Security. He remarked: "The Ministry of Defense is, at its heart, dedicated to the homeland, duty, and honor—values that are best represented by both our military and civilian personnel."

He went on to say, "These values should heighten our awareness of the opportunities we have and the contributions we must make to our country—not only in safeguarding its integrity but also in modernizing our Armed Forces, so they become a true point of reference in the region during these increasingly uncertain times."

Minister Vengu pledged to devote his full energy to advancing the priorities outlined by the Albanian government for the Armed Forces and in the area of security and defense. He also highlighted the significant involvement of Armed Forces personnel in recent civil emergency efforts, particularly in firefighting operations.

In his farewell address, former Minister Niko Peleshi expressed his gratitude to the military and civilian team of the Ministry of Defense, highlighting the progress Albania has made as a NATO member over the years. "Today, Albania is highly regarded within our Alliance, NATO. It is immensely satisfying to see that Albania is now ranked among the top countries in NATO for meeting the Alliance's obligations and commitments, ahead of other nations that have been members longer than us. But as I said, all the credit goes to you." -  Peleshi emphasized.

Minister Pirro Vengu was appointed to this role on the recommendation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, following several years of leadership experience. He previously served as the General Executive Director of the Port Authority of Durrës and held key positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council of Ministers, where he led the Department of Administration, Transparency, and Anti-Corruption (DATAK) for two years.