Minister Crosetto attends the inauguration of the NATO Air Base in Kuçova, Albania

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Today Defence Minister Guido Crosetto attended the inauguration of the NATO Air Base in Kuçova, Albania. The ceremony was attended by Albania top authorities: President of the Republic Bajram Begaj, Speaker of the Parliament Lindita Nikolla, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Defence Minister Niko Peleshi and the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires David Wisner.

“Our presence –the minister declared- testifies to Italy’s commitment shoulder to shoulder with Albania, a country with which we share deep historical, cultural and friendship bonds based on our geographical vicinity and common vision”.

“The inauguration of the Kuçova Air Base – minister Crosetto continued- is not just a significant goal achieved in

 our bilateral cooperation, but also a turning point for the entire Western Balkans region, as well as a concrete example of our shared security, cooperation and regional development commitment. The Base is a starting point for common initiatives that can include defence, professional training and cooperation in the industrial sector and emergency response”.

Moreover, the project makes Italy-Albania cooperation in the defence sector more concrete: Italy, in fact, takes active part in joint military exercises which strengthen operational compatibility and promote the exchange of knowledge.