Attending an informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Oslo, Norway, Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka also expressed gratitude for NATO’s contribution to the regional security.

“Thankful to NATO’s contribution to the security of our region. Confirmed our full support for NATO’s KFOR troops and condemned in the strongest terms the unprovoked violent attacks in the north of Kosovo. The EU-facilitated dialogue is the only way to move forward,” Xhaçka said.

According to the Foreign Minister, the Alliance’s enlargement in the North is a positive signal for Europe’s and Alliance’s security.

“Firmly confident that Sweden’s membership with NATO will strengthen the Alliance and the security of Europe as a whole,” she stated.

The informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Oslo focused on preparations for the next NATO Summit due in Vilnius, ways to strengthen the transatlantic defense and Allied support for Ukraine.

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The U.S. Embassy in Tirana said that the meeting focused on was to strengthen ties between our countries.

Assistant Secretary Bitter expressed gratitude on behalf of the U.S. government for Albania’s generosity in hosting and protecting Afghans and reaffirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Albania.

In the course of her Albania trip, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter visited the coastal town of Shengjin a day ago, where she met with Afghans who are awaiting relocation to the United States.

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Foreign Minister Xhaçka noted that Albania was one of the first countries to offer assistance and join the search and rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake in Türkiye.

“Expressed today my condolences to Ambassador Tayyar Kagan Atay at the Turkish Embassy in Tirana on the disastrous earthquake that hit southern Türkiye. Our hearts and minds are with the people and the government of Türkiye. Our assistance and help has been present from the very first moment and will continue in any way we can,”  Xhaçka said.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter scale jolted Türkiye and Syria three days ago, killing thousands of people.

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The meeting was attended by the UN Secretary General António Guterres, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, and the foreign ministers of the UN Security Council members.

Foreign Minister Xhaçka praised France and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna for hosting today’s conference.

Xhaçka stated that “Russian Federation, a permanent UN Security Council member, has waged an illegal war and aggression on Ukraine.”

“In our view and in the view of the whole world, Russia’s actions outrageously breach the UN Charter. The war in Ukraine and Russia’s flagrant attempt to invade parts of the Ukrainian territory are a dark reminder of fascism and Stalinism,” she stated.

In her address, the Albanian diplomacy chief said that the fact finding missions reveal a horrible criminal brutality against the Ukrainian civil population, while stressing that the international community should hold Russia accountable for these acts.

“We condemn Russia’s new path of confrontation by announcing a partial mobilization in Russia,” she said.

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