Albania is working to strengthen regional cooperation in aeronautical search and rescue. The country hosted the second 2026 meeting of the Regional Aeronautical Search and Rescue Advisory Committee (RASARAC), organised by the National Search and Rescue Centre.

Deputy Defence Minister Blerina Abrazhda took part in the meeting. She reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to building a stronger search and rescue system, improving operational capacity and ensuring faster responses.

She stressed that an effective search and rescue system represents both a national priority and a shared regional and international responsibility.

Meanwhile, representatives focused on coordinating rescue operations and assessing the search and rescue resources of member countries. They also discussed ways to simplify procedures for cross-border operations.

The programme included the 28th meeting of the Experts Group and the 29th meeting of the RASARAC Steering Board.

Furthermore, the meeting prepared the ground for SAREX-2026, a joint aeronautical search and rescue exercise scheduled for November 4. The exercise will test operational readiness and improve coordination among institutions during emergencies.

Through these efforts, Albania aims to strengthen its response capacity and contribute to a more coordinated regional search and rescue system.

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