NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday that the Western Balkans is of strategic importance and that NATO is increasing its support for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in strengthening its defense capabilities.
Stoltenberg met with Albanian President Bayram Begay at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, after which he spoke at a joint press conference.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for NATO, Stoltenberg said:
“We agreed on the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR)and the importance of NATO’s presence in the region, including our offices in Sarajevo and Belgrade. We are also increasing our support for BiH in strengthening its defense capabilities. I welcome the progress made in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina with the mediation of the European Union (EU). I hope that constructive work will take place in the coming weeks. NATO strongly supports the stability and security of the Western Balkans. We know that we can count on Albania’s support in this regard.”
Stoltenberg, among other things, said that NATO supports Albania’s security. He stated that Albania is a valuable ally, that it contributes to NATO missions and supports Ukraine against Russia.
E.Dz.
