Vengu meets Hungarian counterpart in Budapest: Deepened partnership in defense and support for European integration
The Minister of Defense of Albania, Pirro Vengu, held a joint press conference today with his Hungarian counterpart, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, following the bilateral meeting in Budapest, where the close partnership between the two countries in the field of defense, security and European integration was reaffirmed.
In his speech, Minister Vengu thanked his Hungarian counterpart and his team for the hospitality and intensive cooperation in recent years, emphasizing that Albania and Hungary have built a very close partnership at all levels of government. He underlined that Hungarian investments and companies of excellence in Albania now constitute an important pillar for cooperation in the military field as well.
The Albanian minister praised Hungary's strong support for Albania's accession to the European Union, stressing that the country has opened all the chapters and is advancing with reforms and achieving intermediate milestones. "We need the support of all member states so that this process, not only technical but also political, continues without delay," he said.
An important part of the discussions was devoted to cooperation in the field of defense and the military industry. Minister Vengu praised the development of the Hungarian defense industry and emphasized the aim of integrating military supply chains, with preference for allied countries. In this context, the parties signed two agreements: one to intensify defense cooperation at the civilian level and another between the institutions responsible for defense innovation, with the aim of benefiting from more funding from European programs.
The Albanian minister also stressed the strategic importance of Southeast Europe for the continent’s security, stating that “Albania is not the periphery of Europe, but part of its nerve center.” He recalled the joint commitment of Albania and Hungary to the KFOR and European Union missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For his part, Hungarian Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the bilateral meeting in Budapest and with the welcome of a NATO member and a European country like Albania. He emphasized that the Western Balkans have a key historical, economic and social role and praised Albania for its role in the stability of the region.
The Hungarian minister also expressed special appreciation for the long and steady path that Albania has followed towards European integration, underlining that Hungary continues to fully support Albania's membership in the European Union. According to him, this process is deserved and based on the fulfillment of reforms and standards, and not on political or ideological reasons, explaining that this approach differs from Hungary's position in other cases, including Ukraine, which official Budapest does not support for membership.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed the Albanian Ministry of Defense’s efforts for modernization, emphasizing that “a colossal job has been done, in line with NATO standards.” He added that fulfilling NATO objectives and sharing experiences are essential for both sides and were also confirmed in the bilateral meeting. In conclusion, the Hungarian minister guaranteed that Albania can always rely on Hungary and its Ministry of Defense.
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