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During a meeting with MPs, former MPs, ministers and former ministers in Tirana, General Barbero praised Albania's act of protecting People's Mujahedin of Iran, known with the abbreviation MEK .
"I don't think MEK is a threat, but Iran it is. The Mujahideen have fought for democracy in the country, which is a threat to the regime. The main goal of the leaders in Tehran is to survive the regime and the MEK is a threat to this. I admire what Albania has done for the Mojahedin by bringing them here and continuing to provide them with protection," he told to media.
The US general said Albania should be alert after the escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States.
"If Iran considers you a threat, there may be an attack. I would suggest maintaining vigilance and staying connected to NATO and the United States. I don't think it's likely for any attack here, but we live in a dangerous world,” he said.
"Every US friend is, unfortunately, considered a target of Iran. For this, alertness is important, especially in the cyber arena, as Iran has some sophisticated cyberattack capabilities. For this reason, Albania must be very vigilant in its efforts against terrorism and cyber attacks,” Barbero said.
General Barbero rated the killing of Qasem Soleiman as more significant than the killings of bin Laden or al-Baghdadi.
While on the other hand, after following the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, responded to journalists' interest in the danger posed to Albania following the message of Iran's Supreme Leader the day before.
Rama has stated that Albania is a member of NATO and any attack on it would be an attack on NATO.
"I must emphasize that we are a NATO member and every attack on our country is an attack on NATO," he said.
Rama said that Albania was aware of the risk of the Mojahedin sheltered in Albania.
“We know very well that by taking the step of involving humanitarian operations to protect the lives of those at risk, we have taken a risk. I am very proud that this risk was taken by bipartisanship. In this regard, Albanian politics has taken a stand and has taken this step with unified conviction in view of an indefinable alliance with the US," he said.
Rama has said that Albania is on the side of the countries of the alliance that are fighting for a better world.
"We live in a world where we face dangers, enemies of freedom, democracy and we are very proud to be useful in supporting an alliance that fights for a better world," he said.
At a press conference in Vienna, Rama spoke about Albania's priorities during the 2020 chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).