NATO supports military cooperation between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska has emphasized the importance of defense investments for the security and stability of the Western Balkans, a region which, according to her, is affected not only by global geopolitical developments, but also by political dialogue.
In an interview with the Beta agency, during the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Shekerinska said that the Alliance constantly calls on authorities in the region to engage in dialogue, resolve unresolved political issues, and support regional prosperity and stability.
"We believe that all countries in the region can and should contribute to stability. Therefore, we expect their support in this regard," she said, N1 reports.
Asked about the recent meeting between defense officials from Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo, as well as the announcement of joint military exercises – in a context where the Serbian Ministry of Defense warned of possible long-term consequences for regional security – Sheqerinska underlined that Albania and Croatia, as NATO members, are important contributors to peace and stability.
"They are not only reliable allies within the Alliance, but also important contributors to peace and stability in the region. They actively participate in KFOR and are very committed to supporting this agenda," she stated.
Sheqerinska also added that NATO was not part of the discussions on the declaration of cooperation in the field of defense that Zagreb, Tirana and Pristina signed in March last year, but that membership in the Alliance does not prevent countries from having other defense agreements with third parties.
She stressed that the global geopolitical situation has also affected the Western Balkans, leading to more military exercises and increased defense investments. However, NATO continues to encourage countries to engage in parallel political dialogue and resolve outstanding issues.
Shekerinska also recalled NATO's support for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, with the aim of creating a favorable environment for political solutions, telegraf reports.
“I have no doubt that all our allies strongly believe that security, peace and prosperity are the only path for the Western Balkans,” she concluded.
Yesterday, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Defense Ministers of Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia met.
Croatian Minister Ivan Anusic stated that military cooperation between the three countries does not pose a threat to anyone, responding to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who had warned of increased defense investments as a result of this alliance.
