Defense Minister Niko Peleshi participated in the Central European and Western Balkans Defense Cooperation Ministerial, which was chaired by the Hungarian presidency, in Budapest.
In his welcome speech, the Minister of Defense of Hungary, Mr. Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, praised the contribution of the CEDC initiative to strengthening regional cooperation in the field of defense and security, emphasizing that the countries of Central Europe have the Western Balkans as their focus and for this reason this region has been and remains one of the main priorities of the CEDC initiative.
For his part, Minister Peleshi expressed his gratitude to the CEDC countries for the focus and attention they pay to the Western Balkans, emphasizing the inclusion of the 6 countries of the Western Balkans and at the same time highly appreciating the inclusion of Kosovo in this initiative.
Minister of Defense Mr. Peleshi, reconfirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Defense in any regional/international cooperation aimed at meeting the challenges of the time, increasing interaction in the field of security and defense as well as ensuring peace and stability.
Further, Minister Peleshi highlighted the challenges that our region is facing, since the consequences of the war in Ukraine, foreign influences aimed at destabilizing the Western Balkans, specifically mentioning the tense situation in the north of Kosovo some time ago. Minister Peleshi emphasized that: “Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, so strongly promoted and requested by the European Union and the United States, is the only solution for maintaining integrity and peace in the region” Minister Peleshi emphasized that the Ministry of Defense of Albania will continue to be one of the biggest contributors to regional cooperation, promoting good neighborliness, supporting the principle of mutual acceptance and inclusiveness, and maintaining peace and security in the region and beyond. During this meeting, the priorities and the calendar of activities that will take place during the Hungarian presidency of the CEDC were presented.
The CEDC initiative, as well as the format within it dedicated to the Western Balkans, has strengthened cooperation and coordination between the states of Central Europe and the Western Balkans.
/abcnews.al
