Newsroom Speeches Speech of Defence Minister Mrs. Mimi Kodheli on the occasion of 5th anniversary of Albania’s membership in NATOHonourable Prime Minister Rama,
Honourable colleague Bushati,
Honourable former ministers,
Honourable MPs, Excellencies ambassadors
Honourable Chief of General Staff
Officers, NCOs, professional soldiers,
Dear friends,
It is an honour and privilege for me to address you today on the 5th anniversary of Albania’s membership to the North Atlantic Alliance. 5 years is a relatively short period for the NATO 65-year history, but it is important today to mention the fact that our country, shortly after the change of political system, expressed the will to reconnect with the Euro-Atlantic world.
In June 1992, Albania became a member of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, a NATO mechanism to expand cooperation with countries that not long ago were aligned against the Alliance.
Just a year later, our country was visited by NATO Secretary General, Manfred Wörner, who declared in the Parliament that NATO will support Albania to modernize the Armed Forces, in order to make them capable not only to protect the country, but also to guarantee the Euro-Atlantic security along with NATO forces.
After the political-strategic commitment in the NATO Cooperation Council, Albania became part of another initiative that engaged the country in a political-military plan, the Partnership for Peace (PfP). Many of us recall the first commitments, although modest, of our forces abroad, in the framework of this initiative.
Meanwhile, the excellent cooperation between the Albanian Government and Albanian society with NATO’s allied structures made possible coping successfully with the humanitarian crisis during the Kosovo war in 1999. NATO commitment to the final resolution of the conflict, not only makes us eternally grateful, but also particularly proud of being part of this organization.
Continuing further with the military experiences as NATO partner, we can also recall significant experiences of the pre-accession period. I take this opportunity to thank our militaries that have participated in the missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad, etc.
The experience of that process, especially since the signing of the Membership Action Plan in 1999, has greatly influenced the transformation of the security sector of our country.
And here we are today after two decades, Albania is a full member of NATO and our Armed Forces are actively committed in close partnership with our Allies to protect peace and country’s integrity, the security of the region, of the Alliance, and contributing to global peace and security.
I take this opportunity to greet our militaries in missions abroad, who are the most evident symbol of our country’s membership in the Alliance.
Honourable guests,
The commemoration of our country’s membership in NATO is a symbolic event, but however, the celebration of this day does not only have chorological value. This date for our country, our people and all our compatriots will remain in consciousness as the event that fully reunited us with the Euro-Atlantic values and principles of freedom, democracy and progress.
It is not difficult for us Albanians to describe NATO as ‘loyal connection’ between honoured friends, determined to protect each other, with the right to live in peace and prosperity. Therefore, we are determined to maintain and exalt our role as member of this Alliance. We will firmly implement the necessary reforms to revitalize the Army and institutions under the Ministry of Defence, aiming the standards of counterpart bodies of allied countries.
Our approach to achieve this major objective is two-faceted.
Firstly, we intend to make appropriate legal arrangements, beginning with the national and military strategic documents to guarantee a sound and updated legal basis.
Secondly, our goal is to achieve, as soon as possible, the restructuring of the entire Armed Forces to make it more flexible and interoperable for internal and external tasks, according to the needs.
The Ministry of Defence, the Albanian Government are focused on reforms, especially on those related to the improvement of the military education system, modernization of means, training system and revitalization of projects already agreed with the Alliance, but for which few is made.
We still have much work to do, in order to set the Armed Forces in a respectable position within the Alliance. But we are determined to restore the missed dignity of the Armed Forces, not only by creating conditions to better carry out their duties, but also by eliminating corruptive and depreciatory practices of their work.
We are also determined to support the Alliance in every engagement where it is called to act; to offer our contributions to the common interest for a peaceful and more prosperous world alongside our strategic ally, the United States; to fulfil as soon as possible obligations in the framework of EU membership; to continue cooperation with other regional organizations that address security issues aiming the promotion of peace in the region and beyond, as well as the membership of the region countries in the Euro-Atlantic structures.
Concluding, I would like to express gratitude for the support of the biggest ally of Albania, the United States of America. And the warmest thanks go to all our NATO allies, for their support and cooperation in the framework of the Albanian big dream. Sincere thanks goes to the Albanian militaries and employees of the Ministry over the years, who have served with dedication.
Finally, I would like to transmit the best wishes to NATO itself, which celebrates the 68th anniversary of its creation, without forgetting our fellow Croatian in the 5th anniversary of membership. A special greeting also goes to the other countries of the region, which expect to join the Alliance.
Happy anniversary to all!
