NATO Defense College meets in Tirana, hears report on meeting membership goals

TIRANA, June 6 – Scores of representatives of the NATO Defense College based in Rome, visited Albania as part of a research study on different NATO member countries as well as candidate countries.
Meeting them, Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu made a presentation on Albania’s policy on security in the Balkan region.
Mediu said that Albania is a very important factor for peace and stability in the region. He continued that the country is working to fulfill the requirements asked from NATO while it is proceeding to become a full member, likely next year.
The minister explained how the Adriatic 3 Charter cooperation with Croatia and Macedonia assisted in that process.
The tiny Balkan country has sent small army units to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq and is negotiating on sending another one to Lebanon.
“Our country is confronted with challenges linked not only to NATO membership but also with duties asked by this organization and the European Union integration process,” said the minister.