Good-neighborly policy instills a positive impulse to security of the region and its integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, concurred the defence ministers of Macedonia and Albania, Radmila Sekerinska and Mimi Kodheli, at a joint meeting Wednesday in Tirana, MIA reported.
"It's my pleasure to pay my first official visit in the capacity of minister of defence to Albania and this is no coincidence. It upholds the clear position of the Macedonian government that regional cooperation is indispensable for the entire region to prosper," Sekerinska said after the meeting.
According to her, talks focused on discussing several key areas, including curbing risks, fighting fundamentalism and addressing terrorist threats.
On her part, Minister Kodheli said Albania was prepared to work with the new government in Macedonia to settle challenges facing the two countries.
"I'm confident that the countries' cooperation, with you as minister, will be improved even more and that a prosperous partnership between the two ministries and the armed forces will be established," noted DM Kodheli.
As regards mutual cooperation, Minister Sekerinska noted that the government of Macedonia had voiced a clear position about the country's neighbors. "We need our neighbors as much as they need us."
Also, Sekerinska and Kodheli singled out the need the region to integrate into NATO so as to boost security and prosperity of Balkan countries and beyond, the Macedonian Ministry of Defence said.
"Macedonia's accession to NATO will introduce a fresh impulse to security and stability in the region, which has played a crucial role in maintaining the security of Europe, especially involving the migrant crisis," Minister Sekerinska said adding the region could prosper only if it were safe.
Minister Kodheli said she appreciated Macedonia's efforts to reform the defence sector urging the country to pursue the reform path. Albania, she said, has been following closely Macedonia's efforts to join and we will strongly support the integration of Macedonia into NATO.
According to the Albanian Minister, Macedonia's integration into the Euro-Atlantic organization is favorable both for the Balkans and the Alliance.
As part of her official visit to Albania, DM Sekerinska is also scheduled to visit the special forces battalion of the Albanian armed forces.