Albania and Croatia eyeing Strategic Partnership

Nga: Genc Mlloja

 “We have agreed with Marija (Croatian FM) that the relationship between Albania and Croatia be upgraded to a higher level, that of Strategic Partnership, and we will soon conclude a text which should be agreed and signed by our states. It will determine the fields of cooperation in the best way,"' said Albania's FM Ditmir Bushati during a joint press conference with his Croatian counterpart Marija Pejcinovic Buric in Tirana on March 15, 2018

Albania and Croatia maintain centennial and diversified relations a 'demonstration' of which has been the regular and well-planned visits of the high ranking officials of both countries during the first four months of this year. 

But what has drawn particular attention lately is the drive of the authorities of both countries to upgrade the level of the Albanian-Croatian relationship to the 'Strategic Partnership' and diversify among others their military cooperation.

"It is high time for these relations to be raised at the Strategic Partnership level," President Ilir Meta said in Zagreb on January 12, 2018 during a visit he paid there at the invitation of his counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.  

"Referring to the strong historical ties and brilliant relations between the two countries, as well as the common Euro-Atlantic vision, President Meta stressed that it is time for these relations to be raised at the Strategic Partnership level," a statement released by the presidential press office said at the end of Meta's visit to Zagreb.

Meta and Kitarovic agreed that the Croatian President's state visit to Albania will take place in the coming months. Both Presidents stressed the necessity of continuing the EU enlargement process with the Western Balkan countries and praised the very important role that Brdo-Brijuni process could play in this regard.

This year's three high level visits were made from January to the beginning of April with the first one being that of President Ilir Meta to Zagreb (January 2018), which was followed by visits to Tirana of Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejcinovic Buric and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic (15 March and 5 April receptively). 

Defence Ministers Discuss “Business”

Albania and Croatia, which are outstanding and reliable NATO partners, will broaden the military cooperation to guarantee security in the region, Defense Minister Olta Xhacka has said in a joint press conference with the Croatian  Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic.

Croatia's top military paid a visit to Tirana on April 5 in the frame of the 9th anniversary of the membership of the two countries in NATO.  Albania and Croatia completed the accession process and joined the Alliance as members in April 2009. A flag-raising ceremony marking their accession was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on April 7th that year.

"I warmly congratulate them on this historic achievement. In becoming NATO members, Albania and Croatia share the benefits and responsibilities of collective security," the former Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said on that occasion. 

It is significant the public revelation by Defense Minister Xhacka of Albania's aim to modernize its Armed Forces and the appeal to the Croatian counterpart to boost the military cooperation unveiling concrete fields. "In this frame, our staffs will share information on the opportunity of the development of a cooperation plan by assessing the practical and military fields of our institutions and Armed Forces," said Xhacka after the talks with her Croatian counterpart.

"Education, training and joint drills will be the eventual fields and I am convinced that they will be fruitful," Xhacka said, adding that they discussed Albania's contribution in the missions and operations of the Alliance and of the European Union, as well as issues related with the fight against terrorism.

"I assured the Croatian counterpart that Albania will continue to contribute in the frame of the Alliance to face the challenges of security and defense in the new geo-political context and particularly vis-a-vis the destabilizing actions in the eastern borders of NATO," said Albania's top military. 

The Croatian minister said he supported Albania's initiative to establish a NATO center of excellence for foreign fighters and added that he was pleased that members of the Croatian Navy would participate in the "Albanian Lion" exercise in September.

In the meantime, Albanian President Ilir Meta pledged his full support to continued bilateral cooperation and thanked Croatia for its contribution to the NATO-led mission in Kosovo while receiving the Croatian Defense Minister, Krsticevic. 

“Croatia is traditionally an ally and a partner to Albania and I have to say that I believe our two countries will work together even more closely,” Meta said.

For his part Krsticevic told Meta that his visit aimed to maintain traditionally friendly ties between the two countries, which share many goals and interests.

“Croatia and Albania nurture good relations, joint interests and responsibilities in maintaining stability in Southeastern Europe. Croatia is ready to share its experiences and support to Albania on its Euro-Atlantic path,” Krsticevic said. He underscored the importance of continuing cooperation in extending support to countries in the region that are hoping to join NATO and Croatia’s readiness to help Albania on its path to EU membership, especially in terms of the European joint security and defense policy.

He said the countries had good bilateral cooperation within the US-Adriatic Charter in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, underscoring that he was confident the two countries, as NATO members, could set an example that will steer the rest of the region toward NATO.

“Croatia will preside over the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020 and our priorities will be the fight against hybrid and cyber threats, strategic communications and strengthening the capacities and resistance of our partners, which in the geographic sense, we will focus on Southeastern Europe,” Krsticevic said.

Croatian Air Force to Police Albanian Sky?

Under the above headline a report on the visit of the Croatian Defense Minister to Albania carried by the news agency HINA had risen the question that Croatia was ready to police Albania's airspace.

"As you know, Croatia has made a decision to procure multi-purpose fighter jets that will strengthen the capacity of the Croatian Army and increase its contribution to the security of Southeast Europe. With the procurement of the new multi-purpose fighter jets, we will be ready to offer air policing to our NATO neighbors," said Krsticevic as quoted by HINA on April 6, 2018.

As a matter of fact, if there is any 'limitation' in the Armed Forces of Albania that is obvious in the air forces as this Balkan country does not have a real military air fleet which was ruined after 1991. The situation is that bad today that Albania does not even have any means to police its own airspace and that crucial matter for the protection of the country is left in the hands of Italy and Greece after its membership in NATO in 2009. According to official reports, those two countries do that on a rotation basis.

Albania's only defense is NATO and the strategic alliance with the United States. Washington and Tirana signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2014.

Given the current situation, it cannot be excluded the above mentioned possibility as both Albania and Croatia are NATO allies, having brilliant relations and of course the eventual signing of the 'Strategic Partnership' makes such an option very possible. 

FMs Working on Text of “Strategic Partnership” 

"We have agreed with Marija (Croatian FM) that the relationship between Albania and Croatia be upgraded to a higher level, that of Strategic Partnership, and we will soon conclude a text which should be agreed and signed by our states. It will determine the fields of cooperation in the best way." This was another clear indication on an eventual upgrading of Albanian-Croatian relationship given by the diplomatic chancellories of the two countries which was unveiled by Albania's FM Ditmir Bushati during a joint press conference with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejcinovic Buric in Tirana on March 15, 2018.

"We are two countries being part of the Adriatic; we share joint interests with regard to the further development of the Adriatic in the fields of security but particularly for the economic development," said Bushati.  

"The relations between Croatia and Albania have traditionally been very good and I can say they are excellent. One of the evidences is that I have been here twice within two months. First, I was in Durres by the end of last year in the frame of the trilateral cooperation among Croatia, Albania and Montenegro, and we agreed there to meet at bilateral level for further promoting the current good relations," said the Croatian FM in the same press conference in Tirana. 

The trilateral meeting between Albania, Croatia and Montenegro was held in Durres on November 17, 2017, at the initiative of Albanian FM Bushati and it was the second meeting as the first one was held in Split, Croatia, in February last year, where this platform for joint efforts to consolidate the cooperation in the so called Adriatic Europe was launched.

The accession of Montenegro in NATO last year has prompted the transformation of this part of the Western Balkans into the 'Adriatic NATO' contributing to security, stability and prosperity of the three countries, their officials have said.

FM Marija Pejcinovic Buric backed Bushati's comment on the 'Strategic Partnership' saying that work was being done on that. "We are working on such a document. We will work to have a good framework through which different operators can get engaged more to take forward our cooperation in the relevant fields. As Mr. Bushati said, we are partners, we are excellent partners. We became NATO members at the same time and this form of cooperation has given us more possibilities for further development," said Buric. 

Skanderbeg Year to Be Marked in Zadar Arbanas

The Albanian community in Croatia is another major factor contributing to the fostering of the relationship between the two people. This human bond is an important main asset of relations, enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. The historic and current Albanian emigration in Croatia, including the centuries-old Arbanasi community, has served as a bridge between the two people and countries regardless of the fact they do not have a common border. 

In July 2016 an Albanian middle-school was inaugurated in Zadar for the Arbanasi people living there and books in Albanian were delivered from the Albanian Embassy in Zagreb. More than 50 pupils started their studies in the Albanian school for the school year 2016-2017.

During his visit to Zagreb President Meta praised in particular the role and contribution of the Albanian community living in Croatia as a bridge in the strengthening of friendly relations between the two countries. Both presidents Meta and Kitarovic agreed that, within the framework of the Skanderbeg year, they will hold a joint visit to the 300-year-old community of Zadar Arbanas.

 Albanian Daily News