Minister Kodheli at the Conference with Ambassadors

: Published: Thursday, 14 July 2016 18:40

Defense Minister Mrs. Kodheli attended the second day of the Conference with Ambassadors of Albanian Republic which is taking place in the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 13 -15. 2016.

Minister Kodheli was invited to the panel “ The exposed Europe: meeting the requirements of our security architecture", which was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Enver Hoxhaj, Minister of Energy and Industry Mr. Damian Gjiknuri, Germany's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Turkey and the member countries of EFTA (European Free Trade Association), Mr. Ernst Reichel and advisor to the Prime Minister of Security Affairs, Brigadier General (R) Sander Lleshi.

Minister Kodheli identified the current security challenges with which Alliance is facing as the 3R (Russia, radicalism and refugees), for which she said "Albania as a NATO member, has a serious commitment. Warsaw Summit decided to continue the implementation of an already established structure, where Albania has a very important position with its thoughtful commitments. Since 2014, the year in which Russia had this aggression against the Crimea and some of the territories of Ukraine; Albania was one of the countries which alongside of NATO allied countries clearly expressed its position regarding its political and military commitments and political posture of Albania as a NATO member. "- she said. In this framework minister Kodheli mentioned the commitment of Albanian to the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, VJTF, with an infantry company with as well as other structures of AAF has been modernized and equipped with new weapons. “ It’s the first time that Albanian Armed forces due to this massive modernization of the last two years, shall have that armament and munitions of NATO standards. All these will be covered by the budget of Ministry of Defense. "- stated Mrs. Kodheli, who also mentioned the increase of the defense budget by 12%, focused as she said, "to the modernization and on increasing investment for the Armed Forces."

Speaking about the events occurring in Syria and the creation of Daesh there, Mrs. Kodheli said that "Albania was among the first countries that raised the concern about the increased risk to NATO's southern border and the consequences that this threat would bring afterwards. The events in Paris, Brussels and some events in Ankara, but also many other events causing the death of many human beings have shown that radicalization is a phenomenon which should not only be faced, but studied on its very beginning out of its cell, the moment of its genesis."- added minister Kodheli, who brought to attention our country's project to set up in Albania, a NATO center of excellence for the study of the phenomenon of foreign fighters, which has already come in the technical phase.

Also minister Kodheli during her speaking mentioned the NATO missions on which Albania is taking part, emphasized the doubling of Albanian contingent in the mission Resolute Support in Afghanistan, and sending a demining team in e EU mission in Mali.

Minister Kodheli also mentioned the contribution of Albanian servicemen in NATO – KFOR’s mission in Kosovo and ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the end Mrs. Kodheli stressed the importance of integrating the countries of the region in EU and NATO, which, according to her, would make the Western Balkans a more stable and safer region.

The Conference of Ambassadors of the Republic of Albania is the highest platform of discussion about foreign policy, where our representatives in the world meet and share views with the highest authorities of the country, which affect the design and orientation of our foreign policy.

In this event participate ministers, parliamentarians, European decision makers, Albanian and foreign scholars from the US, EU, Russia, Turkey, region etc.