As announced by Lulzim Basha in a recent press conference, the Democratic Party has submitted an amendment to the state budget in the Albanian Parliament, seeking to allocate €50 million in military aid to Kosovo.
"Considering the tense security situation in the Republic of Kosovo in light of the unprovoked escalation of security conditions by Serbia, it becomes necessary to provide financial assistance for defense and security needs by the Republic of Albania to the Republic of Kosovo, at least 5 billion lekë annually, starting from the year 2024. This financial aid aims to strengthen and expand the military capabilities of the Republic of Kosovo for the defense of sovereignty, integrity, and territorial integrity," states the document.
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| Page from the PD amendment regarding the suggestion for aid to Kosovo and Lulzim Basha with a file in hand |
In the accompanying arguments to the amendment, Lulzim Basha suggests that the funds for aiding Kosovo should be sourced from excess expenditures on offices.
"Approve the reduction from 129 billion 381 million lekë to 124 billion 381 million lekë by cutting non-essential capital investments for the overall economic development of the country, such as office restorations, mobilizations, vehicle purchases, and non-emergency capital expenses," the document states.
The 2024 budget was approved in December amid chaos, with no discussions for the first time, receiving four votes against from Lulzim Basha's deputies and only green cards from socialist deputies.
Amendment Text:
Considering the tense security situation in the Republic of Kosovo in light of the unprovoked escalation of security conditions by Serbia, it becomes necessary to provide financial assistance for defense and security needs by the Republic of Albania to the Republic of Kosovo, at least 5 billion lekë annually, starting from the year 2024.
This financial aid aims to strengthen and expand the military capabilities of the Republic of Kosovo for the defense of sovereignty, integrity, and territorial integrity at a time when the Republic of Serbia is rearming with declared objectives for military intervention in Kosovo when political circumstances permit such action.
The terrorist attack on September 24th in Kosovo was not an isolated incident. Terrorists were trained in military bases in Serbia, weapons were smuggled into Kosovo for months, aiming to provoke a scenario similar to Crimea in 2014. There is no doubt that none of these proportions can happen without the involvement of state authorities in Serbia. And this was not the only operation to forcibly change the status quo in which Serbia is currently involved.
Encouraging and supporting the secession of Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina, attempting to control the political infrastructure of Montenegro, and the infiltration of para-military structures into Kosovo to orchestrate the violent takeover of part of the territory, all contribute to Serbia's state strategy to dictate a new reality, which Belgrade's leaders publicly label as the Serbian World.
This is an attempt to impose a change in borders through de facto divisions and territorial occupations. The ultimate result would overturn the Euro-Atlantic security architecture of the Western Balkans and potentially deal a deadly blow to peace and stability in Europe.
In a broader plan, this implies using Serbia as a pawn in a strategy devised and orchestrated by Moscow with clear objectives: Destabilizing and plunging the Western Balkans into chaos and minimizing the southeastern flank of NATO by opening a new front in the heart of the Alliance against Russia's unlawful military intervention in Ukraine.
While senior representatives of allied countries have made it clear that the objectives behind the Banjska terrorist attack constitute a serious threat to peace and stability, the highest authorities in Kosovo have raised concerns that 3 out of 4 brigades of the Serbian armed forces are positioned in 48 operational bases along the border with the Republic of Kosovo, awaiting a potentially opportune moment for military intervention.
All of this indicates that action must be taken without wasting time to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Republic of Kosovo. Some allied countries have taken active steps to strengthen and expand Kosovo's defense capabilities. However, Albania should also be ranked in support of Kosovo and its allies.
Given the capital expenditures of the State Budget for the year 2024, I propose to the Albanian Parliament:
1 - approve the reduction from 129 billion 381 million lekë to 124 billion 381 million lekë by cutting non-essential capital investments for the overall economic development of the country, such as office restorations, mobilizations, vehicle purchases, and non-emergency capital expenses;
2 - approve a "financial aid for the military of the Republic of Kosovo" in the amount of 5 billion lekë.