Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister Edi Rama at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (13 July 2022) and thanked him for Albania’s contributions to the Alliance. He welcomed Albania’s contributions to NATO’s multinational battlegroups in Latvia and Bulgaria, as well as to the Alliance’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
The Secretary General also praised Albania for its commitment to promoting stability and cooperation across the Western Balkans. Noting the decision by Allies to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO, Mr. Stoltenberg commended Albania for ratifying the Accession Protocols for both countries so quickly. “This shows that NATO’s door remains open and that we continue to stand up for the right of every nation to choose its own path,” he said.
The Secretary General and Prime Minister Rama also discussed Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and NATO’s continued support to Kyiv. “I welcome Albania’s support for Ukraine, including your recent pledge of humanitarian aid, and your recent visit to Ukraine was an important demonstration of solidarity,” said Mr. Stoltenberg.