Austria, Minister Xhaçka participates in Western Balkans Defense Ministerial: Albania Security Factor in the Region

Published: Thursday, 27 September 2018 15:54

Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka participated in the forum of the Western Balkans Defense Ministerial in the framework of the

Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The meeting, held in Graz (Austria), was an initiative of the Austrian Defense Minister, Mario Kunasek, in the framework of activities organized by the Austrian government on defense priorities.

In her speech, Minister Xhaçka, said that such communication platforms will improve further the structured dialogue between the European Union and the Western Balkans region at security and defense level.

"Addressing security challenges remains one of our top priorities, as it is a common interest to have special care for our region. Although the security threats are becoming more diverse in the Euro-Atlantic area, we have made excellent progress in terms of security and stability in the Western Balkans. Albania continues to play a constructive role in producing security for the region, "said Minister Xhaçka in her speech.

By focusing on a referendum expected to take place in Macedonia on Sunday, the Defense Minister said: We have the full confidence that this referendum will be a safe step towards peace, security and prosperity not only for Macedonian citizens but for the entire region.

Minister Xhaçka briefed her counterparts from Austrian, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the important security and cooperation structures that our country is expected to run next year, as well as: the Adriatic process of European Defense Minister Southeastern Europe (SEDM) as well as Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Center (RACVIAC).
All this, according to what Minister Xhaçka said, are indicators of Albania's maturity and ability to run important security processes.

At the end of the meeting, Defense Ministers signed a joint declaration on deepening cooperation between countries to face the challenges in the field of security and defense.

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