Albania was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. There, Albania reaffirmed states’ obligations under applicable International Law and expressed its commitment to strengthening the protection of civilians and civilian objects during and after armed conflict, as well as to addressing the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. During the fourth round of consultations in April 2022, Albania also endorsed the European Union (EU) statement expressing support for the initiative.
Statements and positions
Albania has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas several times at the UN Security Council, primarily highlighting the broad harms caused to civilians by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities on 25 January 2022, Albania warned that when cities become theatres of war, streets become deathbeds and that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas always leads to mass civilian casualties, destruction of critical infrastructure, and displacement. Notably, it also called on all parties to conflict to stop or avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. 1 Later that year, at the UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians, Albania reiterated that “every conflict brings a devastating impact on civilians, critical civilian infrastructure, livelihoods, education, health systems, and food and water security, particularly when explosive weapons are used in populated areas.” 2
As a Candidate Country to the European Union (EU), Albania has also aligned with EU statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance and welcoming the Political Declaration. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including in 2024 when it expressed deep concern about the use and humanitarian consequences of explosive weapons in populated areas, “which has significant civilian impact and should thus be restricted and avoided” 3 as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities 4 At the UN General Assembly in 2025 Albania aligned with the EU statement, which recalled the Political Declaration and its “aim to reduce harm and strengthen the protection of civilians” and noted the Costa Rica conference offered an opportunity to “translate the Declaration into concrete measures on the ground”. 5 At First Committee in 2023 the EU welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption as well as the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference. 6
As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Albania is also aligned with the May 2016 World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” 7