US Ambassador to Tirana Yuri Kim stated today that protecting borders from smuggling is important for regional security and national sovereignty.
The US Ambassador was in Kakavija, after the US donated some equipment to the Kakavija customs, on which occasion an official ceremony took place.
She further said that the border police should cooperate with other law enforcement agencies if they want to fight criminal elements.
“Glad and proud to see three flags behind me. The commitment of the US government to ensure secure borders that are not only important for Albania. This commitment to the use of legality is and always will be. This commitment is unwavering. We are not only for the increase of Albania’s capacities in this field, but we also cooperate with Greece. Protecting borders from smuggling is important for regional security and national sovereignty. Recent seizures at the border are a positive indicator. The border police must cooperate with other law enforcement agencies if they want to fight criminal elements. We need to be a little smarter and more ruthless, we urge law enforcement agencies to work side by side against crime. The US will support your efforts“, She declared.
Interior Minister Blendi Çuçi said that in Kakavija there have been investments to increase the quality of service to citizens, with the support of our partners such as the US and EU governments. “Albania is a country many times safer than years ago, the quality of services at border crossing points is at a much higher level of service and therefore Albania ranks among the countries with the highest border protection and high quality service. We have a cooperation of at least 30 years with the USA and one of the main areas has been security. Cooperation that has made it possible for Albania to export security to the world, but also to be a country with high security. This requires maintaining this standard. I thank the US for the equipment donated to Albania to increase security through technology. Devices such as thermal cameras, scanners, etc., are increasing the standard of border protection. This arsenal of equipment and the personnel that use them, remembering the presence of FRONTEX, has raised the security standard“, Declared Çuçi.
As for the Ambassador of Greece Sophia Philippidou, Kakavija is an important point for our cooperation with Albania against organized crime and smuggling. “Our cooperation with Albania will be further strengthened when a center for cooperation and exchange of information in real time is established.“, She said.