Kosovan defense delegation visits Norwich for security, cybersecurity briefings

A delegation of five officials from the Republic of Kosovo's defense and security sector visited Norwich University on Thursday for a series of briefings on hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, and global geopolitics. The delegation was part of a small group traveling together on the State Department program; a State Department liaison accompanied them throughout their U.S. visit.

The visit, held from 2-5 p.m. in Room 104 of the Cyber Fusion Center, was part of a broader program bringing the delegation to the United States under the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The program, coordinated by the Mississippi Consortium for International Development, is titled "Resilient and Resourceful Defense Capabilities: A Project for Kosovo" and runs Aug. 1-22. Its stated objectives include examining American education and training for military and defense professionals, and exploring strategies for recruiting, retaining, and developing government employees.

The Kosovo delegation included:

• Edona Abazi Zylfijaj, official for bilateral cooperation in Kosovo's Ministry of Defense, where she manages defense relations with regional partners and advises leadership on defense diplomacy.
• Liridon Iberdemaj, an advisor in the Cabinet of Kosovo's Minister of Defense who provides strategic guidance on defense policy and international cooperation. Iberdemaj has more than 11 years of experience in the defense sector.
• Avdylkader Muçaj, head of the legal department in Kosovo's Ministry of Defense, where he drafts legislation, issues legal opinions and represents the ministry in court. He also chairs a working group on international military agreements.
• Luljete Vitija Rexhepi, secretary to the commander of the Kosovo Security Force since the institution's founding. She oversees civil administrative matters and coordinates among units and outside organizations.
• Remzie Zeqiraj, parliamentary commissioner for the Kosovo Security Force in the Kosovo Assembly, where she works to strengthen democratic oversight of the force and uphold the rule of law. She has played a role in building Kosovo's post-war security institutions.

The visit opened with introductions before BG Mark Denton, VSM, Commandant and Vice President for Student Affairs, briefed the delegation on the University. COL William Lyons, USA (Ret.), Vice President of Distance Education, College of Graduate and Continuing Studies and director emeritus of the Center for Global Resilience and Security, then presented on hybrid warfare, followed by a break. Dr. Travis Morris, director of the Peace and War Center, spoke on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and Dr. Yangmo Ku, chair of the Department of History and Political Science and associate director of the Peace and War Center, presented on global geopolitics. The afternoon closed with a general discussion.