The NATO Tactical Air Base in Kuçovo was opened today, with modern infrastructure for the Albanian fleet of armed helicopters and drones and the Alliance’s fighter planes, which will also serve to take the training of Albanian aviators to another level, meanwhile which gives Albania a new geostrategic importance.
As the largest NATO base in the region, this important infrastructure not only raises Albania’s profile on the international stage, but also strengthens the country’s commitment to peace and security in the region, becoming a valuable asset Alliance.
Prime Minister Edi Rama was today at the inauguration ceremony of the Air Base together with the highest political personalities of the country, leaders of the structures and senior military of the partner countries of the Alliance, military attachés accredited in our country, etc.
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Looking at some of the attendees who are here, as representatives of another generation, which experienced all the developments before the democratic changes, I am referring to a fragment of the newspaper “Zëri i Populli”, in May 1954 when Albania came the leader of the Soviet Union and the newspaper wrote that the dead were jumping for joy and the flowers that May had bloomed earlier precisely to welcome Comrade Khrushchev.
This reference is important because at that time, Albania, with this base that we are reopening today, was considered a strategic outpost of the Soviet Empire facing Western Europe, and here in Kučovo a considerable number of bombers were stationed.
If you read the declassified war plan that was in the Kremlin drawers, the war would start with the bombing of Vienna, Stuttgart, Munich, Nuremberg, two NATO bases in Denmark, three Italian bases in Padua, Verona and Vicenza and parts of this operation would also be the bomber planes of the Kuçova base.
Today we live in a different era and fortunately Albania is on the other side, welcoming with pride and respect its allies and partners in an alliance, which is first and foremost an alliance of values in defense of peace and democracy.
I am especially happy today that a work started for a long time managed to be completed and here with us are also many friends, partners, allies, whom I would like to thank, in a special way, the Minister of Defense of Italy, who has also brought several fighter jets with him and on the other hand, I would like to thank our invaluable Turkish friends and allies who for almost three decades kept alive the spirit of this base, which today is completely transformed and ready as a new NATO tactical base with an importance that exceeds the borders of Albania. A base which is another element of security for our Western Balkans region, which we know well is a region not endangered by the threat and neo-imperialist ambitions of the Russian Federation.
The reactivation of this military airport is also part of the renewal and further qualitative increase of our air fleet. The two new Black Hawk helicopters as well as the Bayraktar drones are part of an increase that will continue.
On the other hand, last but not least, I want to thank all the residents of the area of Kuçova, Tapia, Dimal and Berat and beyond for the patience they have shown during the rehabilitation and reconstruction of this base. I really hope that the NATO tactical base will bring new employment opportunities for them as well as new opportunities for the entire service chain, influencing the local economy.
Last but not least, I want to express a special thanks to all those who contributed starting, of course from our NATO allies with the hope and confidence that this new NATO tactical airbase will to be accompanied in the coming years by the new NATO naval base in Porto Romano, for which we are working closely with NATO and we are very confident that soon we will be able to enjoy the news of the inclusion of this project in alliance plans.
Special thanks and best wishes for health and for everything our hearts hold dear to all our Armed Forces, all the troops and individuals who serve in these forces and who day by day make Albania more proud of them and are one more reason that we feel more proud of Albania.
Thank you!
