Statement of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka after the Council of Ministers meeting

At today’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, we approved in principle the protocols of NATO accession for Finland and Sweden. So, we formally agreed on the expansion of the Alliance and the inclusion of these two countries. These protocols will then be passed for ratification in the Albanian Parliament and after the ratification procedure has been carried out in the parliaments of the 30 NATO member states, as well as in the parliaments of Finland and Sweden, it will be possible to accept them de jure in The North Atlantic Treaty. The final step, before the two countries officially become members of NATO, is the deposit of the instrument of membership with the Government of the United States of America in the capacity of the deposing state of this treaty.
It is a development that comes as a direct consequence of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the fact that two countries like Finland and Sweden, with a long tradition of neutrality, today feel the need to join NATO, is a clear indication that on one side we have the threat that all Europe faces today and on the other side is the trust that NATO enjoys as an organization capable of guaranteeing the collective security of each member country even when it comes to a threat of this magnitude.
Albania has always supported the NATO Open Door policy, for all those countries that meet the membership criteria. Sweden and Finland are not only two countries with which Albania has very good relations, but at the same are two model democracies and two valuable partners, who have made important contributions to NATO operations and missions in our region, in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq. It was therefore not a difficult decision and no hesitation in taking such decision. We hope that this enlargement moment will serve to give a new momentum to further NATO enlargement in the Western Balkans, and here I want to emphasize especially the case of Kosovo, which shares with the Alliance the same principles and values.
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It is an important development, which further strengthens security in the Euro-Atlantic area, and at the same time strengthens cooperation between NATO and the European Union.
Good day everyone,

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