Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama, given today in Parliament:
Dear Mr. Speaker,
Honorable Members of Parliament,
The NATO Summit, the highest summit of the Alliance, that gathered heads of states and governments, was held in Wales of the United Kingdom from 4 to 5 September. It was the 26th summit in the history of the Alliance, and the 2nd in which Albania participates after it became a member in 2009. One of the main speakers at the closing session of the Summit of Wales was the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO, and the fact that he was given the floor is a meaningful expression of appreciation of the Alliance to the role of respective parliaments. And in sharing the same high appreciation for the role of Parliament also in our relations with NATO, I considered appropriate to share with you and with the public some of the most important issues, which were the core of discussions in the highest NATO forum, but that are as well some fixed points of reference for the following work of this Parliament in relation to security and obviously, to the high responsibility of membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Firstly, NATO’s relations with Russia and Ukraine that were ranked first in the internal discussions. Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine, illegal and forcible annexation of the Crimea, as well as keeping the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine have created an extremely dangerous, troublesome and greatly exacerbating precedent that aggravates security in Europe. For this reason, this topic was one of the priority concerns of the Summit of Wales. In the first paragraph of the declaration of Wales it is said that “Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine have significantly challenged our vision of a whole Europe, free and at peace.”
In line with the Alliance’s considerations, but also with the specificity of a country that has had close and complex relationship with legal and spiritual predecessor of contemporary official Russia, former Soviet Union, Albania condemned Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine, which in many points resemble previous aggressions of the Soviet Union against Hungary or Czechoslovakia. In response to the increased risk in its southern and eastern borders, NATO approved in the Wales Summit a Readiness Action Plan. Explicitly, this important strategic plan represents NATO’s response to risks coming from Russia. It aims to ensure that the Alliance will remain strong, ready, robust and responsive face to any situation and intimidation. The Readiness Action Plan contains two important categories of measures, insurance services and adaptation. Security measures provide continuous presence in land, air and sea, as well as significant military activity in the eastern part of the Alliance, according to a rotation system. Adaptation measures provide components that will ensure full management by the Alliance of security challenges for the future. Alliance’s security and adaptation measures will be accompanied by a series of tight military training. The Summit proclaimed the massive exercise “Trident Juncture 2015” extended to Portugal, Spain and Italy, with the participation of 25 corps, including our corps. These expensive and important measures are a result of a serious escalation in the security situation in the east and south of NATO.
The fact that Russia tore up the “rule book”, as President of the United States highlighted, has forced NATO to review its entire strategic repertoire, serving its basic purpose. In paragraph 48 of the Declaration of Wales, while stressing NATO’S fundamental goal for collective defense, under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, it is noted that: “No one should doubt of NATO’s determination, if one of its members is compromised”.
The second concern, not based on its importance, but according to the order of internal discussions, was about the danger of terrorism and extremism. Increased tension in the south of the Alliance, throughout the crisis from Tunisia to Libya, Syria and Iraq, represents an absolutely new challenge and a new and serious threat, not only to Syria, Iraq and other countries directly affected, but to the region and to countries of the Alliance.
The NATO Summit strongly condemned the barbaric attacks of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant that are aimed against all peoples. The Summit condemned particularly the barbaric attacks of ISIL against religious or ethnic groups. Here as well, Albania gave a significant contribution to risk analysis that derives from the activity of these terrorist organizations. In particular, the involvement of some citizens of Albanian origin, along with many citizens from other countries within the European Union, is considered not only a completely new phenomenon, but also a very concerning one for their countries of origin. Constrained by the escalating attacks and a growing international anti-terror coalition, the terrorist mercenaries will try, as all symptoms have shown so far, to take refuge in going back to their countries of origin, threatening to export from there in the free world, the daily atrocities they have practiced in Syria and Iraq.
The Albanian attitude towards this issue was summarized in the need to include as quickly as possible, through integration within the Euro-Balkan shields, countries such as Kosovo, Montenegro and up to Macedonia. The integration of these countries into NATO and the European Union is without any doubt, in our view – and we have repeatedly insisted, finding complete resonance – the more appropriate measure to make these countries inaccessible to the scary ambitions of international terrorism. Having dealt with extreme seriousness the terrorist threat from south, the Alliance’s leaders stated in the Declaration of Wales that: “We condemn with the outmost force the violent and cowardly acts by ISIL. If the security of any of the allies is threatened, we will not hesitate to take every necessary step to provide our collective defense.”
Despite the fact that the security of our country enjoys full guarantee face to the dangers that could arise from the terrorism of the so-called Islamic State, the concern for the safety of the region’s countries remains still reasonable, since these countries share land borders with our country but are off-limits of NATO’s collective defense. For this reason, we are not only concerned, but also very committed to giving our full contribution to a safer and peaceful region, which means also a fully integrated region.
Meanwhile, in concluding this argument, I want to reiterate my full conviction that what we see from the TV as a bestial fight against people is not happening far away, but is happening anywhere and is a war inside our house. Inside our house in Europe, inside our house in the Balkans, inside our house in Albania. And for this reason, it is a war that belongs to us and we will do everything we can to stop it, side by side our allies and under the leadership of the United States, based on the strategy announced by President Obama a few days ago.
Furthermore, the Albanian delegation held very clear positions regarding the importance that the decisive continuation of the enlargement process in the Western Balkans region has for NATO. It is not anymore a unilateral need of Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia, but it is a mutual need. These countries need to be part of NATO, as much as NATO needs them to be part of it. At the Summit, we expressed once again our view, already known, that the peace reached among all countries in the region after 100 years of hostility – since World War I began in this region, and after ceaseless tension and conflict that have plagued the region for 100 years – is the result of NATO’s firm commitment and of the European Union’s as well. Besides appreciating very much what has been achieved, we showed our position that only a constant continuation of the process of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of our region is the way to really consolidate the boundaries of freedom and peace, and to ensure tremendous benefits not only for the region but for all countries involved in NATO and the European Union.
And, from here, we have repeatedly made a plea, in every session and in every discussion, in all formats, to the heads of states and governments, to the Ministers of Defense, to Foreign Ministers, to all member countries of NATO who have not yet recognized Kosovo, to conclude as soon as possible the process of the official recognition of the state of Kosovo. Our strong and clear plea stems from the consideration that only the conclusion of the recognition process and later, the integration of Kosovo in the Euro-Atlantic structures, will eventually make that unimaginable political, diplomatic, military and economic investment by NATO and the EU in this key country in the region, a stable and inviolable investment.
Our position regarding the region was clearly reflected in the declaration of Wales. I quote paragraph 40: “The Alliance remains fully committed to the stability and security of the region and we will continue to actively support the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of countries in this region.” Furthermore, very encouraging ratings for Kosovo and a clear appreciation for all its achievements, particularly concerning mature parliamentary elections of this year, encouragement to continue further the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and engagement to support Kosovo security forces and constant commitment to KFOR until final completion of the mission regardless of how long it will take, were all issues duly dealt with in the declaration of Wales.
The Wales Summit gave encouraging signals for Macedonia’s efforts towards integration into the Alliance. The promise made at the Bucharest summit to invite this country to join NATO, as soon as certain conditions are met, was repeated. By showing openly and clearly our interest in a democratic, stable, secure Macedonia integrated into NATO, we expressed ourselves unequivocally, that these high standards will be possible only when this country approaches seriously the enforcement of the Ohrid Agreement, which constitutes a solid ground for coexistence and prosperity of a multiethnic and multi-religious society, such as that of Macedonia.
I want to emphasize that by asking that besides other issues, like the well-known name issue in the unresolved conflict with Greece, which has blocked and will continue to block the process of further integration of Macedonia, and that the Ohrid Agreement – which according to us is still unresolved – can be included as well, Albania is not intended to impede the path towards integration in NATO of this important neighboring country. Absolutely not. On the contrary, we believe that establishment of democratic standards in the relations with Macedonia’s Albanian people, through rigorous implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, will create conditions for a sustainable future of Macedonia as a multiethnic and multi-religious country, integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community, and represents also another important step in the direction I mentioned earlier, to consolidate the region in relation to the threat of Islamic extremism.
By addressing Macedonia, the declaration of Wales stressed and I quote: “We encourage and support the continuation of reform efforts within the country, particularly with a view to ensuring effective democratic dialogue, media freedom, judicial independence, and a fully-functioning multi-ethnic society based on full implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. We also encourage further efforts to develop good neighborly relations.” Compared to the positions it had in a previous summit declaration following the Bucharest Summit, both in Lisbon and Chicago, the Alliance has become more demanding towards Macedonia, this time making also a request we have persistently presented, for the full implementation of the Ohrid Agreement.
On the other hand, we persistently repeated in the Summit what has been our firm belief since the very beginning, that Montenegro should become part of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance as soon as possible. Joining others who supported the progress made by Montenegro to join NATO and expressing full support to maximally accelerated the steps towards membership of Montenegro, also for other reasons that I mentioned above, concerning the need to consolidate the region as part of the Alliance and to make a compact opposition against the ‘bestial world’ that threatens our world, we insisted that Montenegro be included in this Alliance as soon as possible. On Montenegro’s issue, the Wales declaration quotes: “In recognition of Montenegro’s progress towards NATO membership, the Alliance has agreed to open intensified and focused talks with Montenegro, and agreed that Foreign Ministers will assess Montenegro’s progress no later than by the end of 2015 with a view to deciding on whether to invite Montenegro to join the Alliance.”
The fact that a date will be set, which happens for the first time in relation to Montenegro, to consider the preliminary decision of the Alliance, is a significant step and a very encouraging development for our northern neighbor.
Two words for Afghanistan, where the leaders of the Alliance highly appreciated the outstanding achievements scored during the mission in Afghanistan led by NATO and in particular, the recent elections in Afghanistan that could be considered as the first very comforting product of a multiyear effort to transform Afghanistan from a pledge of a barbaric darkness where it was before the intervention, in a country where democratic aspirations and equality between the sexes are sustainable.
In the NATO summit, two candidates for presidents of Afghanistan gave a joint statement to cooperate together and resolve in a fully democratic and peaceful way the conclusion of the electoral process, which has had a tremendous turnout, unpredicted even by the most optimistic. But what remains for us is that the outcome of the mission in December 2014 is not the end of NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan, but a significant difference in the size and nature of the engagement, with a shift from the mission called ISAF to the new mission called “Support resolution”. The new orientation will come from training and assistance to Afghan authority and will have a much smaller number of participants. However, the reduction of military troops’ participation will be complemented by a greater commitment towards international financial support for this country. As it has done so far, Albania will continue to provide its proportional contribution to all plans in the framework of NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan.
Honorable Members of Parliament,
Significant changes in the international security environment and particularly European security, having as main source Russia’s dangerous and aggressive behavior in the east and the beastly barbarity of the terrorist attacks in southern territory of NATO, are the main factors affecting the response of Alliance through the Readiness Action Plan. Complex measures provided for in this Plan, both in the short and long term are associated with very significant cost. The issue of costs has been the last part of the Summit, not least, but one of the main themes.
But the difference and common solutions, within the collective defense, require of course a fair participation of member countries in bearing respective costs. Additionally, since most of the member countries belong to the European continent, signs of fatigue are sensitive to all member states when it comes to financial and budgetary possibilities. However, leaders of the Alliance agreed to change the current trend of the systematic decline of defense costs in some countries and to better balance costs and responsibilities, as well aim at a more effective use of budgets.
As far as this issue is concerned, which was one of the central issued I mentioned, in the declaration of the Wales Conference is said: “Our overall safety and protection depends on how much we spend and how we spend it.” And as a new and accountable member, Albania will make all efforts to bear its share of the burden in all aspects. This means that the curve of our defense budget, which after joining the Alliance has had a clear and systematic decline rate, will stop decreasing and in line with GDP growth will gradually begin having a positive development. What the Parliament should pay attention to and keep in consideration is the prevention of reduction.
Finally, in line with the priorities set out in the new Strategy of National Security, we must balance in a better way all defense costs and use them more effectively.
The Declaration of Wales is a voluminous document containing 113 points that must be particularly known to members of this Parliament who are directly in charge of dealing preliminary with security issues, as it is a declaration fundamentally different from declarations issued in the last decades’ summits.
The Declaration of Wales and the new strategy of national security, which finally made our country find its bearings in the field of security, after many years of improvised wandering, constitutes a complete and now complementary, strategic frame to lead efforts of our people to the highest standards for security and prosperity.
In this context, the Parliament of Albania and all other institutions of the country are required to conduct a study and make a deep assessment, as well as a coordinated national effort to rigorously meet all our obligations face to the Alliance, being aware that the world has changed. Change is very quick and things can still change fast in an undesired direction. Meanwhile, despite of the direction which opposing forces to the world that we represent want to give it, we remain removable in all our efforts to strengthening the Alliance. It is not about costs: it is about the most crucial investment to ensure the future and to prevent violations of the world where we have chosen to live and where we have the chance to live.
Thank you!
