TIRANA, April 26 /ATA/ – The Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi attended a Ministerial of Cooperation that brought together defense ministers from across Central Europe and Western Balkans, an event held in Budapest under the auspices of the Hungarian presidency.
In his remarks, the Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky underscored the critical importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing regional defense and security.
He praised the Central European Defense Cooperation (CEDC) and its role in strengthening regional cooperation in defense and security, underlining that the Western Balkans is on focus of the Central Europe countries.
On his part, Defense Minister Peleshi lauded the significance of CEDC initiative in bolstering cooperation among nations in the region, particularly emphasizing the focus on the Western Balkans and Kosovo’s inclusion in this initiative.
Defense chief reiterated Albania’s unwavering dedication to regional cooperation, pledging continued support for initiatives aimed at promoting good neighborly relations and ensuring peace and security in the region and beyond.
Peleshi emphasized the imperative of dialogue and cooperation in tackling the myriad challenges facing the region, from the fallout of conflicts in neighboring Ukraine to external influences seeking to disrupt stability in the Western Balkans.
Notably, he underscored the pivotal role of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, supported by the European Union and the United States, as the cornerstone for preserving regional integrity and peace.
Established more than a decade ago, the CEDC format has served for Ministers to address the issues of Western Balkans region and defence cooperation within the EU.
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