At a forum held in Washington DC on security and defense investment, Republican Party Chairman Fatmir Mediu and US Congressman Keith Self discussed the importance of defense investment and NATO's role for stability in the Balkans.

Mediu thanked Congressman Self for his commitment to Europe and especially to the Balkan countries, emphasizing the support he has provided for building peace and stability in the region.

For his part, Self, chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe in the Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that the 5% investment in defense is vital to strengthen partnerships within NATO and increase stability in Europe and the Balkans. He stressed that security in the region is delicate, describing the Balkans as “a powder keg,” and argued that Kosovo’s membership in NATO would be a key stabilizing element.

Mediu stressed the importance of the agreement of all NATO countries to launch the membership process for Kosovo and underlined that this will bring more stability and partnership to the region. He also thanked the Albanian community in Dallas, Texas, for their continued support for Albania.

This forum once again underlined the strategic role of the Balkans in NATO and the need for close cooperation among allies to ensure stability and peace in the region.

Fatmir Mediu: Congressman Self, first of all, let me thank you for your commitment to Europe and especially to the Balkans. You have been a very strong voice on many issues and especially for helping our countries come together in partnership and build peace and stability in our part of the world. Thank you very much. The floor is for you.

Congressman Keith Self: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. I chair the Subcommittee on Europe in the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

I want to emphasize, first of all, that since I became the chairman of the subcommittee, I have had probably 35 to 40 European delegations pass through my office.

There are a lot of uncertainties — tariffs, Greenland, and I could go on and on. But I want to tell you that I think this 5% commitment is vital, because it will make us more equal partners in NATO, in Europe, and certainly in the Balkans.

I want to address another issue here: stability in the Balkans. I am looking for balance in the Balkans. I want balance in the Balkans and I think one of the key parts — and I have taken it as a personal mission — is Kosovo's membership in NATO, which would be an extremely stabilizing force in the Balkans. So we need to make progress in this direction and we need to respond to the objections of some countries. I believe that this is a key part of what we are talking about today, because security in the Balkans — the Balkans today, in my opinion, is a powder keg — and we need to resolve this and bring stability to the region.

With that, Mr. Minister, I leave the floor to you again. Thank you.

Fatmir Mediu: Thank you very much, Congressman Self. We all hope that all NATO countries will agree to at least start the membership process for Kosovo. Within NATO, this will bring more stability and more partnership to our region, to the Balkans. And I think they are working hard to achieve every objective that is required to be part of the NATO alliance.

But while you're here, I can't help but thank my friends from Dallas, Texas — the Albanian community there — who have always worked closely with all of you and have been a great support to our nation.