On the occasion of NATO's 70th anniversary of Collective Security and Defense, the first international academy was held in Tirana, Albania, organized by YATA ALBANIA and YATA INTERNATIONAL. The project was supported by NATO PDD. Three days of activities with professionals from different academic fields as well as politicians and diplomats. The Academy was held in the period from 8th – 11th December 2019.

During the three days the activities took place at the Tirana City Council, the Office of the Prime Minister, the European University of Tirana, the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, and a Cultural Visit was organized at the Bunkart Museum.

Representatives of ATA Macedonia attended the Academy as participants.


Mayor H. E. Erion Veliaj

The key note address was held by the Mayor of Tirana Municipality, H. E. Erion Veliaj, entitled: “The role of youth in domestic and international politics. Tirana case.”

On the first day, participants attended a panel discussion with well-known personalities and political figures such as Ms. Juxhina Gjoni (YATA International), Ms. Mimi Kodheli (Economist and Politician - Albania's first female Minister of Defense), Ms. Odeta Barbullushi (Advisor to the Prime Minister and National Coordinator for the Regional Economic Zone) and Dr. Bekim Maksuti (Deputy Minister of Defense in North Macedonia). The panel was very useful, full of questions and discussions from the panelists and attendees.

Juxhina Gjoni, Mimi Kodheli, Odeta Barbullushi, Bekim Maksuti


Elon Latifi – ATA Macedonia

The second day of the Academy was held at the European University of Tirana. There were two panel discussions that day. The first panel was attended by the Ministers of Defense of Albania and North Macedonia, Mr. Petro Koci and Mr. Bekim Maksuti, The Director of the NATO Department at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Plator Kalakula, the Former Minister Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arian Starova, speaking on "NATO's most successful global organization witnessed in these 70 years of existence and its future threats to the Alliance Challenge", moderated by Ms. Simone Zuccareli of YATA Italy.


Plator Kalakula, Arian Starova, Petro Koçi, Bekim Maksuti, Simone Zuccareli

Arta Qerimi, Bekim Maksuti, Elon Latifi (ATA Maqedoni)

The second panel discussed topics were “Women, Peace and Security”, “Youth Engagement”, “NATO-Russia relations”, “Fake news and Malign Influence” and also “Cybersecurity threats”, etc.. The panelists were Ms. Edlira Çepani, Ms. Vilma Tomcho, Mrs. Etleva Smachi, and Mr. Dino Krcic. Moderator was Ms. Elvisjana Hysenaj.


Etleva Smaçi, VilmaTomço, Dino Krçiç, Edlira Çepani, Elvisjana Hysenaj

Panelists

The panelists of the third day were the Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Mr. Ralf Gjoni, Admiral Cesare Ciocca from the Italian Atlantic Council and the VP of Atlantic Treaty Association of Serbia Mr. Svetislav Vlajnic.


Ralf Gjoni, Cesare Ciocca, Juxhina Gjoni, Svetislav Vlanjiç

Panelists and participants

As an interactive activity, YATA Albania and YATA Italy team organized the first NATO simulation in Tirana.


 Participants

Participants


Simone Zuccareli, Juxhina Gjoni, Fabrizio Luccioli

Participants with the President of ATA Italy, Mr. Fabrizio Luccioli

On the last day of the Academy, the certificates for the participants were awarded by Ms. Juxhina Gjoni, project director of the 1st INTERNATIONAL YATA Academy Albania and Ms. Simone Zuccareli, President of YATA International. President of ATA International, Mr. Fabrizio Luciolli, was present on the closing ceremony.

Representatives of ATA Macedonia were Hristijan Lazarevski, Elon Latifi and Arta Qerimi which are also members of YATA Macedonia.


Participants receiving the certificates