Kurti: The Kosovo-Albania-Croatia Alliance will contribute to the security of the region

Kosovo, Albania and Croatia signed a declaration in Tirana on March 18, through which the countries commit to strengthening cooperation in the field of defense and security.

Regarding this agreement, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has reacted, describing it as an important step in regional cooperation in the field of defense.

"The Ministries of Defense of Kosovo, Albania and Croatia signed today a joint declaration on cooperation, which will strengthen our defense capabilities through cooperation, including the development of new technologies. This is an important step in regional cooperation and the defense vision, which will contribute to the security of the region as a whole," Kurti wrote on the "X" platform, reports Telegrafi.

Kosovo's Defense Minister, Ejup Makedonci, who signed the declaration together with his Albanian counterpart, Pirro Vengu, and his Croatian counterpart, Ivan Anusic, said that the three countries will work to increase interoperability between their armies through education, training and joint exercises.

"Based on our shared values, the same geostrategic orientations and mutual commitments to regional cooperation, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo are committed to strengthening cooperation and advancing steps to protect our territories and peoples, to contribute to international peace and security, as well as to the development of the defense industry," said the Macedonian after signing the declaration.

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According to him, the three countries will work to increase interoperability between their militaries through education, training and joint exercises, will engage in combating hybrid threats, and will coordinate policies for Euro-Atlantic integration.

"This cooperation is not a threat to anyone, but an additional commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Together with Albania and Croatia, Kosovo is stronger, the region safer and the peace more sustainable," said the Macedonian.

Albania and Croatia are member countries of NATO, an organization where Kosovo aims to one day join.

Albanian Minister of Defense, Pirro Vengu, described the declaration as an important step towards strengthening defense capabilities, developing defense industry and technology, and improving military interoperability in the region.

"Albania and Croatia will continue to support Kosovo in its aspiration for full integration into regional and Euro-Atlantic structures," he wrote in X.

Meanwhile, Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic, after signing the declaration in Tirana, Albania, said that given the geopolitical security risks in Southeast Europe, his country is determined to strengthen relations with Albania and Kosovo.

He said that Croatia, as a member of NATO and the European Union, has valuable knowledge and wants to share it with allies.

"With this initiative, which will also include other interested countries from Southeast Europe, we strengthen our position within NATO and the EU and contribute to a more stable and secure region," he said.

Read too The military alliance between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia irritates Serbia, it will seek clarification from Tirana and Zagreb

Following this trilateral declaration of cooperation, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would urgently request detailed explanations from the Foreign Ministries of Albania and Croatia.

According to Belgrade, Albania and Croatia, by signing this document, "took steps that undermine regional stability."

Authorities in Belgrade, which do not recognize Kosovo's statehood, said this initiative represents "open provocation and gross disregard for the reality on the ground."

"We expect urgent responses from Zagreb and Tirana on the true intentions of this dangerous type of security. Serbia will not allow unilateral actions that could jeopardize our territorial integrity, the security of citizens and peace in the region," the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a response.

According to Serbia, the declaration of cooperation was the result of "a strategy aimed at isolating Serbia." /Telegraph/