Meeting of EAPC Defence Ministers NATO HQ, Brussels 8 June 2001

Speech by H.E. Ismail Lleshi, Minister of Defence of Albania Secretary General Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, This meeting is taking place in a very important moment for the countries of Southeast Europe, because of the recent events in the area and particularly the tensions in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Albanian Government is following these developments with great concern. Since the beginning of the crisis we have expressed clearly, transparently and in a constructive way our position, which consists in the following points. Above all and most importantly, Albanian Government fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of FYROM, because we believe this is a principal issue not only for this country, but the region as a whole. Secondly, Albanian Government has strongly condemned any use of violence and weapons as means to achieve political targets. We think that the use of violence would drive us, not only the involved parties in FYROM, but all Southeast Europe towards insecurity instability. Last, but not least, Albanian Government has urged all parties in FYROM to show maturity, self-control and to demonstrate good will to dialogue, in order to overcome the critical situation and build a new future for themselves. Meanwhile, Albanian Government expects that the coalition government in Skopje will work with devotion and maturity together with the democratically elected Albanian political factors to calm down the situation, solve the crisis and bring the country back to normality. We expect as well that casualties in human lives, property, economy and other important aspects will be avoided. We also think that the sooner an appropriate solution is found, the better it is, because every passing day would aggravate the situation and make it increasingly difficult and unmanageable. We believe that this critical situations must be approached with realism, especially in its roots and the long time accumulated factors, affecting them. The attempts to identify them with other elements, outside the Macedonian complicated reality, would not serve to ease of the situation and overcome it, but to the further accumulation of the problems. I wish to reiterate the commitment of Albanian Government to continue closely cooperating with NATO, especially in controlling the border to prevent any kind of illicit activities. I also wish to express our strong conviction that only through joint and common efforts can we make Southeast Europe a region of peace and prosperity and leave behind the troubles of the past. The story for greater nations and lands is over and our region has to join the Euro -Atlantic integration stream. Thank you for your attention.