TIRANA, February 7 /ATA/ “The cyber attack of July 15 was one of the most serious events that our country has experienced.”
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka made the statement today at the conference organized in Tirana about the challenges of cyber security in Albania.
The minister said that, “The attack was an act of unprovoked state aggression against an independent and sovereign country. If the attack had been successful, the Albanian citizens would suffer extraordinary consequences”.
Xhaçka emphasized that, “Albania offers 95% of online services, while the attack compromised the provision of these services”.
The minister expressed gratitude to Israel and the United Arab Emirates, with which, as she put it, we have useful cooperation in the field of cyber security.
She said that, today, no country in the world is capable of facing cyber security challenges alone.
Xhaçka said that with the ongoing war in Ukraine, we have every reason to think that cyber attacks will only become more frequent.
She added that, “The need to raise defense capacities against these attacks is becoming a central issue in every international organization we are a part of.” In the second year of our mandate at the Security Council, cyber security will be one of the main topics to be addressed. In every engagement we have with the EU and NATO, cyber security has become a headline in our diplomatic work.”
Xhaçka emphasized that the EU is playing a key role in creating appropriate cyber security strategies.
She added that, “The establishment of the Center for Increasing Cyber Capacities in the Western Balkans, established in Podgorica, is a concrete development in our region. This center aims to strengthen the operational and institutional response capacities of the governments of WB countries”.
The minister said that, “The main focus of our diplomatic work, as far as cyber security is concerned, has been with the USA and further support to Albania would have a significant impact on the credibility of the USA in the region”.
Xhaçka added that, “The Foreign Ministry will continue to treat cyber security as a priority in every aspect of its work. We will be able to provide the country with the necessary capacities and infrastructure so that to face present-day security challenges only through cooperation”./gj.m/p.s./
