Defense minister visits Washington

TIRANA, May 21 – Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa began a three-day visit Wednesday to the United States, the first such visit since Albania received its NATO membership invitation last month.
During the visit, Oketa will meet with a number of top U.S. officials to discuss bilateral ties, reforms in Albania, especially in the military sphere, Albania’s participation in peacekeeping missions and regional cooperation.
Oketa was expected to meet with deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried and other senior officials.
Oketa’s visit also follows the March 15 Gerdec tragedy which killed 26 and injured 302 persons. In response to that explosion, U.S. authorities have suspended cooperation with a U.S. company that dismantled ammunition in Gerdec with the assistance of an Albanian company. (Tirana Times Staff)