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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeAlbanian Defense Minister Ermal Nufi has stated that there is no change to KFOR's security plans in Kosovo.
Nufi, at the press conference held after the meeting he held with Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci, said that this was confirmed in the meetings he had in Brussels with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, but also with the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Giuseppe Vaco Dragone.
In these meetings, he said that he raised concerns about the level of security in Kosovo but also in the region.
"In both meetings, both with Mr. Rutte and Mr. Dragone, it was confirmed that there is no change, at least to date, in KFOR's security plans regarding KFOR's engagement in the Republic of Kosovo. I believe that all other developments will be addressed within the framework of the cooperation that we have in the alliance. I believe that the security situation in Kosovo, as long as we do all our homework, both in Kosovo and within the alliance, continues to remain stable. We have certainly conveyed the concerns, we are hopeful and confident that full attention is being paid to the security situation in the region, but also the security situation in the region, but also the security situation in Kosovo," said Nufi.
When asked about China's arming of Serbia, Nufi said that this belongs to this country.
"The Republic of Serbia decides on its own whether to arm itself or not or how it considers its security issues. Albania as a member of NATO, but also Kosovo as long as we have the KFOR mission, and the approach and evocation that the Government of Kosovo itself has regarding security, I believe that all security strategies are in full compliance and coordination with NATO, which is also the cornerstone of the security guarantee not only in Kosovo but also in the region, as long as most of the countries in the region are NATO member states," he said.
The Macedonian said they discussed building military capacities and cooperation in terms of defense with Albania.
"We also discussed the possibilities of deepening cooperation in other areas, including the defense industry, an extremely important and necessary sector for the times we are living in, and in the coming days and months we will work more broadly and more deeply in identifying opportunities for cooperation in this area. I am grateful to the minister for all his willingness to support Kosovo on the path of NATO integration, for the promotion of Kosovo within NATO and other organizations that Albania does, but in particular the Minister of Defense, as well as in the regional cooperation we have with both Croatia and Albania in this regard," he said.
He spoke about what cooperation with Albania could be in the field of military industry.
"We have already made a contract for a factory for the production of ammunition, we are also in coordination with other partners on the issue of co-production. When we talk about cooperation with the Republic of Albania, in the field of the defense industry we are talking about two directions. It is co-production, we will look at the possibilities in which areas we can co-produce and this will be done in the upcoming period when we will create both groups and teams that will work on identifying what we can co-produce together, so that we are both interoperable in the operational aspect and in co-procurement of systems that make us interoperable", he added. /KP
Nufi is welcomed with military ceremony by Macedonia
The Minister of Defense of Albania, Ermal Nufi, was welcomed with a military ceremony by the Minister of Defense of Kosovo, Ejup Maqedonci.
After the meeting, Nufi and Makedonci will hold a press conference.
Albanian Defense Minister in Kosovo today
Albanian Defense Minister Ermal Nufi will visit Kosovo today.
He will be received at a meeting by the Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci.
According to the announcement from the Ministry of Defense, the military reception ceremony will take place at the ministry premises starting at 10:30.
Following the bilateral meeting, the two ministers will hold a press conference, which is expected to start at 11:00.