BRUSSELS – Minister of Defence of Albania Mimi Kodheli is attending the two-day meeting of NATO Defence Ministers at the Alliance’s Headquarters in Brussels, ATA news agency reported.
On the first day of the meeting on Wednesday, NATO Defence Ministers discussed and agreed on important decisions on the Alliance’s collective defence.
NATO defence chiefs exchanged views on the Alliance’s main priorities. Ministers focused on the Alliance’s responses to threats stemming from its southern borders, steps to bolster deterrence and defence, development of defence resources and follow-on capabilities to create a safe security environment, ATA reported.
In her remarks, Defence Minister Kodheli stated that Albania remains committed to address its commitments to a comprehensive NATO approach to defend allies.
Defence Minister noted that Albania attaches great importance and welcomes discussions over security challenges and threats stemming from the Alliance’s south.
Kodheli urged NATO members to continue their support to the Western Balkans as the region presses ahead with far-reaching reforms, including security and defence reform efforts.
“Latest developments in northern Kosovo are a sign of the region’s fragility,” ATA quoted Kodheli, further adding the tense situation is provoked by rhetoric of Serbia and destructive role of other external factors in the region.
Defence Minister Mimi Kodheli also attended a meeting that focussed on the deployment progress of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Lithuania. Albania will deploy an army contingent to Lithuania as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.
On the second day of the meeting, NATO Defence Ministers are expected to discuss other elements of collective defence and response to threats, the review of NATO-s command structure, implementation of measures under the NATO Readiness Action Plan, NATO Response Force and defence against cyber attacks.