Berisha: Agreement between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo strengthens regional stability

Former Kosovo Defense Minister Rrustem Berisha spoke about military cooperation between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo for Croatian Television, highlighting the importance of Croatia's experience in building a defense system and assessing that the recent agreement between the three countries is important for regional stability.

“I think that Croatia has very good experience in building a defense system and that this experience is very valuable for our country and our people,” said Rrustem Berisha.

He added that Kosovo has very good cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia, and he sees the new agreement between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo as an additional step in strengthening cooperation.

“I think that this agreement is on the right track to further strengthen cooperation and to be a good example for strengthening regional stability and cooperation in the region,” said the former Kosovo Defense Minister.

"The support of NATO and the USA was crucial"

Berisha recalled that the development of the Kosovo security forces took place with strong international support.

“Everything we achieved and the complete historical path of our army took place under the supervision of the international community and with the support of NATO and the United States of America,” he said.

He emphasized that international partners played a key role even in the most difficult moments for Kosovo.

Kosovo has been developing its army since 2018

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, and Croatia is among the countries that have recognized it. Serbia continues to dispute Kosovo's independence, as well as the development of Kosovo's armed forces.

The Kosovo Security Forces were developed from the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which during the conflict of 1998 and 1999 defended the Kosovo Albanians against the intervention of the army of the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In 2018, the Kosovo Parliament passed a decision by which the then Kosovo Security Forces (KBS) began the transition towards the formation of the full Kosovo Army.

Source: HRT