The President of the Republic of Albania, Sh. Mr. Bajram Begaj, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy David Wisner, Chief of General Staff of the FA Major General Arben Kingji, ministers, deputies, ambassadors, military attachés, commanders of forces, etc. attended the Land Force Command in Zall Herr as part of a “Open Day” in honor of the country’s 15 years of NATO membership.
The attendees first watched the Ground Force and commando personnel demonstrate their skills while touring the Armed Forces displays. There, they were shown tactical, operational, and strategic communications systems equipment and capacity.
In his welcoming speech on this occasion, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi said that “15 years ago, as a reward for the absolute will of the Albanian people, for the pro-Western thirst of a country freed from total isolation, Albania became a member with full rights in NATO, the largest political-military alliance that turned 75 this year, an extraordinary achievement not only in the political and diplomatic sense, but also in the fuller sense of the notion of security. We provided our population with the ability to protect themselves from the largest political-military alliance of all time, which would not have been feasible without the assistance of NATO’s 26 allied countries at the time. Minister Peleshi appreciated the allied countries for their decision, while also thanking Albania’s key ally, the United States, for its support throughout the Alliance process.
According to the Minister of Defense, Albania’s participation is now respected and highly regarded by friendly partner countries, with special recognition for Albania’s willingness to be wherever the Alliance needs it. “We are represented by the elite of the Armed Forces on the southeastern border in Bulgaria and Latvia, as well as having a strong military presence in KFOR Kosovo, marine actions in the Aegean Sea, and a training mission in Iraq. Meanwhile, the best boys and girls in uniform, as well as other civil service colleagues, serve with exceptional professionalism in our representative office in Brussels, as well as NATO headquarters and commands in the Euro-Atlantic region,” stated Mr. Peleshi.
“After 15 years, I believe we have reached a new era of our participation in the Alliance. There is no debate about our commitment to contribute, our methodology, or our attitudes. We have chosen to stand alongside our allies in every difficulty that humanity will face during these turbulent times. We wholeheartedly support Ukraine, its people, and its military endeavors to combat Russia’s cruel attack. We have supported and will continue to assist the people of Ukraine in their seek for freedom. “We will also continue to be the most active guarantors of peace and stability in our region,” Minister Peleshi stated.
Minister Peleshi noted the inauguration of the NATO tactical air base at Kuçovo, as well as the Porto Romano project, which will make it available to the Alliance.
According to the president, “Our commitment to NATO is unconditional and shows that we are ready to participate not only for the protection of our borders, but also to help and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and beyond”.
The Head of State defined NATO membership as an ongoing journey for Albania, with the goal of strengthening democracy, investing in defense capabilities, and cooperating with international partners to achieve a brighter future that is safer and more stable for all. President Begaj expressed gratitude to the United States for its ongoing help and NATO’s engagement in the liberation of Kosovo, adding, “The Albanian nation will never forget this.”
David Wisner, Chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy, cited President George W. Bush’s words to stress the Alliance’s continuing strength: “The enduring strength of the NATO alliance is a testament to the enduring power of freedom.” This alliance will pave the path for a safer, more hopeful future. I hope your children will always remember the difficulties you encountered. May Albania’s stories shine a light on those who continue to live in darkness under tyranny. And I hope that your example will guide them to a brighter future,” added the US representative.
Major General Arben Kingji, the FA’s Chief of General Staff, stated that “the positive evaluations that our Armed Forces receive in the exercises, operations, or the NATO command structure, reinforce our commitment to successfully carry out the task and develop further cooperation with allied and partner countries”.
At the end of the session, attendees greeted officers serving in overseas peacekeeping missions via a live stream.