The integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is not a matter of geography, but a matter of credibility, cohesion and strategic vision. Albania remains deeply committed to advancing Euro-Atlantic integration.
Written by: Bajram Begaj
It is an honor for me to address this esteemed Assembly on behalf of the Republic of Albania at this closing ceremony. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to Congressman Turner for his leadership and for organizing this important conversation on the legacy of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the challenges to EU integration of the Western Balkans.
We deeply appreciate your continued commitment to transatlantic cooperation. This meeting takes place at a time when the foundations of our security are being tested once again. NATO remains the cornerstone of security and stability not only for Europe, but for the entire democratic world. NATO is the most successful, strongest and most united Alliance in history. In today’s complex geopolitical environment, NATO represents a political, military and moral alliance, based on collective defense, shared values and a common purpose. For Albania, NATO membership in 2009 marked a historic turning point.
It affirmed our identity as part of the Euro-Atlantic family. Since then, Albania has remained strongly committed to the mission and values of the Alliance. We are committed to collective defense and will continue to take greater responsibility for European security. It is a strategic imperative to strengthen and sustain investment in defense and security. Albania has increased its defense budget. We are revitalizing our defense industry and are investing in military infrastructure and strategic transport corridors to increase military mobility. Albania will continue to fulfill all obligations and contribute constructively to the Alliance’s collective efforts for defense investment, support for Ukraine, strategic alignment, and regional stability. These contributions reflect our strategic commitments and our belief that sustainable peace requires continued political, diplomatic, and military investment.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, a cornerstone for peace and stability, not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for the entire Western Balkans. It reminds us of how important peace, diplomacy, sustainable cooperation and good neighbourly relations are. But we know that peace does not last by itself. It is shaped every day through trust, cooperation, shared responsibility and vigilance. Peace is not just the end of conflict. It is the beginning of everything else we strive for: dignity, justice and opportunity. Peace creates space for learning, for innovation, for bold ideas and for shared progress. And as technology becomes more powerful, the weight of our choices becomes heavier. It is not just what we can do. It is how we choose to use what we create.
In this sense, responsibility becomes the true essence and the true measure of power. Ukraine has reminded us of all this. Its people have shown what it means to fight for freedom, sovereignty, and the right to determine your own future. Their struggle has reminded us that peace is fragile and must be defended with determination. Albanians welcome all the steps taken by the United States and President Trump, as well as by the EU and the United Kingdom in the service of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We in the Western Balkans understand the price of peace. We have come a long way, but, although there is no war today, this achievement should never be taken for granted. Kosovo today is an independent state because the United States and the Alliance acted swiftly and decisively at a critical moment. It is an irreversible reality and a reflection of what a determined international commitment can achieve. It also shows the power of collective resolve and the responsibility we share in protecting peace when it is most fragile. But there are still voices that draw to the past, there are still divisions that can turn into tensions.
Peace is priceless, but it requires investment.
Peace exists, but it needs reinforcement.
Progress is real, but it requires vision and direction.
The Western Balkans are not a closed chapter of Europe. It is its next strategic step. The integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is not a matter of geography, but a matter of credibility, cohesion and strategic vision. Albania remains deeply committed to advancing Euro-Atlantic integration. We are proud of our strategic partnership with the United States. Albania values this strategic partnership built on trust, shared commitment and a shared vision. We Albanians are proud of our NATO membership and proud to be a candidate country for the European Union. From once being the most isolated country in Europe, Albania now welcomes millions of tourists. Albania already hosts and contributes to important international summits, including the European Political Community and, of course, we look forward to the NATO Summit in 2027.
Reflecting on the past three decades and the challenges that lie ahead, we, small countries like Albania, are more convinced than ever that a sustained strategic presence of the United States, NATO, and the European Union in the Western Balkans region is essential. What we need is a clear and sustained vision to confront challenges head-on and turn them into opportunities; to strengthen democracy, advance reforms, and accelerate Euro-Atlantic integration; and to ensure that NATO remains a decisive and effective force for peace and stability. This vision is not only in Albania’s national interest.
It is a necessity for peace, democracy, the rule of law, coexistence, cooperation and a better future for all citizens living in the Western Balkans region. As we look to the future, we must remain firmly committed to the principles that have brought us this far and rise to the responsibilities that lie ahead. Dayton was about ending a war. Thirty years ago, peace was given a chance in the Balkans. But the next chapter must be about building something better: something more stable, more united and better prepared to face the future.