Minister Kodheli is having a two - day visit in Croatia, invited by her counterpart Mr. Josip Buljević.
In the meetings that Minister Kodheli held with Speaker of Parliament Mr. Željko Reiner, first Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Tomislav Karamarko, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Mr. Miro Kovač and Defence Minister of Croatia Mr. Josip Buljević, they confirmed the excellent bilateral relations and partnership between Albania and Croatia.
During the meeting with her counterpart, minister Kodheli, conveyed the commitment of Albanian Republic in strengthening the further bilateral partnership between two countries as well as in terms of regional initiatives. She also expressed the willingness of Albania in efforts of mutual concern in the further intensification of defence bilateral cooperation on behalf of stability and security issues.
Minister Kodheli reinforced the importance of strengthening the bilateral cooperation in terms of regional initiatives such as Southeast Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM) and Adriatic Charter known as A – 5 and provided the confidence that our country has to Croatia, as the chairman of A - 5 for 2016.
Minister Kodheli also stressed the importance all regional countries’ full right membership in Adriatic Charter on behalf on regional initiatives in Adriatic Card of all regional countries, meanwhile both ministers expressed the willingness in of their joint engagement in NATO operations and missions.
The phenomenon of foreign fighters is an issue that minister Kodheli considered as “a real challenge and threat of our society” and that was also another topic of discussion between ministers Kodheli and Buljević. “Many of them are from our region, and even more, they pass through it”, - she said by informing her Croatian counterpart with the proposal of Albania for establishing the NATO Centre of Excellence in our country responsible for treating this phenomenon. "Very soon we will start exchanging our views in NATO's Military Committee in Brussels, in order to set up this centre in Albania. The support of Croatia in this initiative of my country is very important and would be welcomed by us." - said Mrs. Kodheli.
Also, both ministers agreed in setting up Defence Representative Offices in Tirana and Zagreb.
Minister Kodheli reiterated the commitment of Albania as a strong ally of NATO "open door policy" to faster integration of the Western Balkans in the Alliance.
***
Afterwards Defence Minister Mrs. Kodheli held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Mr. Miro Kovač, with whom confirmed the excellent relations of both countries.
Mrs. Kodheli thanked Mr. Kovač for the invaluable and continuous support of Croatia to Albania's EU integration agenda. "This year will be crucial in our progress towards the opening of accession negotiations and we seek the support of our efforts and steps towards the opening of negotiations for EU membership." - She said.
Minister Kodheli assured the Croatian Foreign Minister that the justice reform will open a new chapter in the consolidation of the rule of law in Albania, as well as in the integration process into the EU. "The adoption of key legislation on justice reform should lead to the opening of negotiations for EU membership." - She said.
During the meeting with the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs the Defence Minister Mrs. Kodheli also mentioned Albania's initiative to establish a centre of excellence for treating foreign fighters and the support that Albania needs in this case.
The main subjects of Minister Kodheli meetings with the Speaker of Parliament Ms. Željko Reiner and the Deputy Prime Minister were the excellent bilateral relationships between both countries and the support of Croatia in Albania's EU integration agenda.
In meetings that Minister Kodheli held with the Senior Croatian officials, it was emphasized the need for joint regional projects, as the best ways to enhance the cooperation and a better development of our countries.
