The National Operations Center for Civil Emergencies in Tirana has been inaugurated. Made with funds donated by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, it will improve prevention and help in cases of emergencies for all Albanian citizens.
TIRANA – The Albanian Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico and the Mayor Erion Veliaj inaugurated today the new National Operations Center for Civil Emergencies of the Albanian Civil Protection. Also present were the Ambassador of Italy to Albania Fabrizio Bucci, the director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Luca Maestripieri, the director of the Albanian Civil Protection Haki Chako and the Director of the Aics Headquarters in Tirana Stefania Vizzaccaro.
The Center, created with funds donated by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in a space made available by the Municipality of Tirana, was set up by the Department of Civil Protection of the Presidency of the Italian Council of Ministers and by the Civil Protection of the Metropolitan City of Florence, who will also take care of training Albanian human resources.
It is a very important step forward for Albania and its citizens. The National Operations Center will improve prevention and help in emergencies for Albanian communities. It is a new chapter in the historical and fraternal friendship between Albania and Italy: a cooperation that has always been founded on the highest values.
Albanian Minister of Defence Niko Peleshi said: “Together with the Municipality of Tirana we have a great ambition. This first step will continue with a vast program of 30 million euros, as part of a 95 million euros post-earthquake aid package that Italy has committed to. We have therefore set a milestone towards a contemporary and truly modern system of Civil Protection, to face in time, alongside the municipalities that are on the front line, civil emergencies and all kinds of natural disasters, with the aim of protecting our citizens. This Center will host each institution responsible for Civil Protection and, as soon as there is a call for an emergency case, we as Ministers and political representatives will be here to work in person as well”.
The President of the Italian Chamber Roberto Fico underlined: “The two earthquakes that hit Albania in 2019 and the long months of the Covid emergency have strengthened relations between Albania and Italy. Ours is a historic friendship. Good work to all the operators of the Albanian Civil Protection. Today’s inauguration is the beginning of a new path.”
The Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Luca Maestripieri, said: “Civil Protection is a fundamental asset for the development and sustainability of any Country. I am sure that the inauguration of this Operations Center in Tirana and the work on Civil Protection that we will do together in the coming months as Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and Albanian Government experts will make Albania’s European identity even stronger in its path of reforms and integration.
