Today at noon, the Minister of Defence, Mrs. Mimi Kodheli had a meeting with the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), General Philip Breedlove, who is leading a high delegation in an official visit to our country.
After the meeting, Defence Minister Kodheli and General Breedlove Kodheli gave a press conference.
Statement of Defence Minister Kodheli:
Today, I had the opportunity and pleasure to welcome in my office General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR). Today’s meeting is the continuation of another successful meeting I had with General Breedlove two months ago at SHAPE, and it is a clear indication of the will to enhance relations between our country and NATO at an even higher level. During the meeting with General Breedlove, we tackled a range of issues and I had the opportunity to inform him about the reform process undertaken by our country, a process that aims the strengthening of the institutions, the economic recovery, the fight against corruption and illegal trafficking.
I also informed General Breedlove on the Ministry of Defence’s priorities, on the progress of reform in Defence and regional cooperation. Albania, as a NATO member, is ready to play a major role in the region, as we believe that the political stability, security and economic prosperity are possible through cooperation. When we talk about security in the region, we have to mention Kosovo’s contribution, even though a new state, it has made admirable progress in the field of reforms. Kosovo, under NATO’s guidance, has achieved the development of the Security Forces, which recently reached the full operational capacity, something that encourages the increase of efforts in the path towards partnership with NATO.
Besides the until now achievements of the Ministry of Defence, I focused on the attention we pay to the capacity building of the Alliance, and I expressed our determination to contribute maximally, offering not only professional and well-trained troops, but also assets that can be used in NATO-led operations.
With General Breedlove, we shared a common concern about the recent developments and tension of the situation in Ukraine, or in Iraq, we evaluated the correct stance of the Alliance and I noticed our country’s stance to contribute with staff officers, as part of security measures in the framework of the Alliance.
Finally, I would like to stop on the preparation of an important event to NATO, this year Wales Summit, which coincides with another important event, the withdrawal from Afghanistan. This summit will address a number of important issues, among which, “Post ISAF 2014” and “Resolute Support” mission. Maintaining the readiness of the forces declared for NATO, the level of defence capabilities and defence spending are significant for the unity of the Alliance, which I hope will be reconfirmed at the next summit.
I thank General Breedlove for the support and confidence.
Statement of General Breedlove
Thank you for taking a few minutes to join the Minister of Defence and myself here today. We have had a great visit and as she said, it’s our second sit-down together to discuss awaiting issues. As I have said in other cases, these are very important times here in Europe, perhaps the most critical since the end of the Cold War. Just as Albania has begun its steps on the road towards EU membership, there are significant changes happening in our security environment. These changes are driving NATO to take a hard look at the way we have been doing business over the last 20 years or so. And these are times when we are asking our members to fully demonstrate their unity and resolved upon the promise of Collective Defence, which forms the bedrock of our Alliance.
Albania has played an important part in the Alliance by contributing to the harden stability in Kosovo, but also by contributing troops in Afghanistan, where so much progress has been made. But now, as I have said, we are at a critical time facing a new paradigm for security in Europe. We have begun adjusting to this changing environment with a series of reassuring measures increasing our activity in the air, in the maritime environment and on the land throughout Europe in the North, in the Centre and in the South. We are prepared to continue these measures through December 31st and likely beyond as we continue to improve our interoperability and readiness.
As the NATO summit approaches in September, our political leaders will be considering ways to ensure NATO remains more responsive over the long-term to potential threats, both abroad and those close to home. Albania will play a role in all of these discussions.
NATO core values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law bind us all together and remind us that the prices of defending these values are well worthed. So whether the threat towards these values comes from near or far, it is imperative that all members of this Alliance are ready to defend them and I am very pleased and assured that Albania remains committed to doing just that.
Thank you madam!
Questions and Answers
What is your opinion about the situation in Macedonia?
Minister Kodheli: The Albanian Government has been clear in its public statements, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, too. We are against violence. Violence leads nowhere and does not solve the problem, we urge calm, the start of talks, and we are for stability and continuity. It is very important that Macedonia, as part of our region, should have that kind of approach towards the unsatisfactory political situations, as a country that already has a well-defined path and accepted by Macedonia and by all of us, the Euro-Atlantic path. Albania will continue to be a factor of stability and undoubtedly, it will continue to follow closely what it is happening in the neighbouring country, and even more than that.
What is the role of Albanian peacekeeping troops in the world? Do the opposition’s recent allegations on the use of military infrastructure in drug trafficking harm the country’s image?
General Breedlove: The first, to me the most important role of Albanian Forces is to be a great member of our Alliance, and let me assure you that they are doing that. They have contributed strongly in Afghanistan; they have contributed strongly in KFOR, not only in the role of military, but in the role of being a mentor and leader in this area. As to the other part of your question, what I would want to say is, first of all, congratulations on being offered the candidacy to EU, second, while I have been here, I have delivered a thank you to your Minister of Defence, and to your Chief of Defence, later today to your Prime Minister and your President for the way your Nation is attaching issues of the past, and I think you have leadership here in the Ministry of Defence who are now looking to the future and that the performance of this military in the future, I think will only continue to improve on an already great record across the past years in NATO.
What are the measures taken by NATO regarding the situation in Ukraine?
General Breedlove: As to Ukraine, I will break my answer into two parts. The first part is, the most important thing that NATO has done as a result of the issues Russia has caused in Ukraine, is that we have put together a very comprehensive package of reassuring measures to make assure that all the Alliance understands that our complete Alliance is dedicated to Collective Defence. So, in the North, we have put together increased Air Policing, the Baltic Sea exercises by our naval fleet, and we have ground forces on the land in all three Baltic nations, in Poland, exercising right now. In the centre part of our Alliance, we have two different AWACS orbits looking deeply into the situation. We have ongoing exercises in Poland and Marine presence and exercises in Romania. In the South, we have NATO countries and the US Navy in the Black Sea doing exercises with our NATO partners, while NATO aircrafts are deployed to Romania, and flying exercises there. So a complete package, from the North to the South, in the air, on the land and at sea.
What will be the role of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan after 2014?
Minister Kodheli: Albania and the Armed Forces will continue to be part of the post-ISAF mission; Albania will continue to be there with its presence, as all NATO member countries will be present on the Afghan territory. Of course the number will be reduced, but the post-ISAF mission will continue to be just as important as the ISAF mission.
