Albania sends another contingent to Iraq

TIRANA, Sept. 6 – A new contingent of 120 Albanian soldiers left for Iraq last week.
“Albania feels proud of its peacekeepers and its cooperation with the U.S.,” said Prime Minister Sali Berisha at the ceremony for the contingent.
Albania has already had 120 troops serving under U.S. command at Mosul airport in southern Iraq. The new troops will serve in another part of Iraq, though still under U.S. command.
That was the 12th contingent to Iraq, this time added with 95 more soldiers, bringing their total number in Iraq to 215.
Albania has been taking part in EU-led mission in Bosnia, NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and with U.S.-led forces in Iraq.
The western Balkan country has also sent troops to Chad and the Central African Republic to join EU peacekeeping missions there.
Albania’s total number of troops participating in international peacekeeping missions is nearly 400.
Albania, along with Croatia, expects to receive NATO membership next year after being invited to join the 26-member alliance at a NATO summit in April.