Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today, from Skopje where the meeting of the leaders of the five NATO member countries from Southeast Europe was held, that he has proposed a format for a NATO Summit involving the Western Balkans.

At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski of North Macedonia, along with President Zoran Milanović of Croatia and Prime Minister Millojko Spajic of Montenegro, Prime Minister Rama stated, “The NATO Secretary General welcomed with interest the proposal to establish a NATO Summit format involving the Western Balkans. This format aims to include not only NATO member countries in the region but also partner countries. Thus, it would encompass other Western Balkan nations not represented here today, as well as member countries bordering the region with a direct stake in its stability and democratic advancement.”

Moreover, Rama emphasized, ‘I regret that despite repeated appeals to significantly bolster not only attention but also troops, ensuring absolute stability and inviolability in Kosovo, a tragic event occurred. This incident should serve as a warning rather than a sporadic occurrence and must be prevented from recurring at all costs in the future.

Hence, Rama stressed, “During today’s meeting, I underscored the critical need to bolster NATO forces in Kosovo and to secure the Kosovo-Serbia border, which is currently uncontrolled and exploited for illegal activities like arms and drug trafficking. These unlawful acts often intertwine with political endeavors rooted in ultra-nationalism, leading to severe consequences, such as the tragic loss of a Kosovo Police officer in Banjska. This incident underscores the high risk of destabilization and conflict escalation. As the Secretary General mentioned, the resolution of such issues must occur at the dialogue table, facilitated by the EU, involving Kosovo and Serbia.”

/m.ll/