Albania sends 110 more troops to Afghanistan

TIRANA, May 25 – Albania on Friday decided to triple its army peacekeeping unit in Afghanistan, adding a company of about 110 soldiers, the government press office said.
Albania currently has an army unit of 30 troops serving six-month rotations under the Turkish command in Afghanistan. Albania also has sent a five-person medical team to Kabul.
The new 110-troop company will serve in Herat under the Italian command.
“(Afghanistan) is NATO’s absolute priority and we will respond with all our capabilities to the alliance’s demand to increase troops. The last meeting of NATO member countries’ foreign ministers noted it was necessary to increase troops in Afghanistan and we respond with an added company of our troops,“ said Prime Minister Sali Berisha at a government meeting.
Albania hopes to join NATO next year.
Tirana has also deployed a unit of 120 troops to Iraq, and a 70-troop peacekeeping contingent in Bosnia.
The government meeting also approved hosting two NATO-led military exercises, codenamed LONGBOW and LANCER 2007, that are expected to be held in Albania.
On Thursday, Berisha was at NATO headquarters in Brussels speaking to ambassadors of the NATO member countries about his country’s efforts to become integrated into the alliance as a full member.
Berisha also met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
The upcoming June 10 visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to Albania is seen as a clear sign for Albania to expect an invitation for NATO membership next year.