Albania’s Deputy Minister of Defense, Blerina Abrazhda, stated that Kosovo must join NATO unconditionally, emphasizing that Albania will always support Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
According to Abrazhda, despite developments in the northern part of Kosovo, the statehood and sovereignty of Kosovo cannot be questioned. She stressed that the global geopolitical situation is more complex than ever before, underlining the importance of a clear positioning within the Euro-Atlantic bloc.
“The geopolitical situation is complicated everywhere in the world, it’s not just our region. Perhaps, let’s say, in the last 20-30 years, there hasn’t been a more complex situation than what we are in today, despite the wars in the Balkans. The network of geopolitical problems we have today has expanded greatly. Albania, at all levels of leadership, from the Prime Minister to all other levels, is forever the biggest supporter of Kosovo. First, we support Kosovo’s entry into NATO, and this is: Kosovo must definitely enter NATO. There is no doubt about our support, which will always continue unreservedly. There is no international forum where Prime Minister Rama, Minister Peleshi, as well as myself, and also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who participate, do not mention Kosovo’s membership in NATO and the advancement of everything for Kosovo’s entry into international mechanisms,” Abrazhda said in an interview with Ekonomia Online.
She described Kosovo as a successful NATO project and an example of the organization’s achievements in the region. Abrazhda clarified that the NATO membership process is difficult due to geopolitical factors. She emphasized that Albania’s support for Kosovo is not merely fraternal but state and strategic support.
“That Kosovo must join NATO is an absolute must, regardless of what is happening in the north of Kosovo or not. Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state in a region that supports Euro-Atlantic integration, in a region where Kosovo is NATO’s most successful project, at least since NATO’s formation. It is one of the biggest missions that NATO truly has today. It must definitely enter NATO. It has an armed force that is complete, it has sovereignty as a state, it has a Constitution, it has all the elements to enter. Of course, the membership mechanisms are a very high political level complicated for various geopolitical reasons. Support will not be lacking, but Kosovo should never forget that Albania’s support for Kosovo is not just fraternal support, but also Albania’s support as a NATO member,” she stated.
The Deputy Minister also mentioned the international support that Albania has mobilized for Kosovo. “With our support, there is a group of 32 states that will support Kosovo forever and always. There is no turning back on the issue of Kosovo, this must be clear. What other states do and how they organize themselves are perhaps their geopolitical mistakes, perhaps their strategies that they think will be more successful, but given how the world today is geopolitically divided into two different camps, we as Albanians, both in Albania and Kosovo, are in the right camp,” Abrazhda concluded.
