Albanian peacekeeping troops leave for Afghanistan

TIRANA, Jan 18 – Albania’s fourth peacekeeping contingent left for Herat, Afghanistan last week.
A ceremony marking their departure was organized at Mother Teresa Tirana International Airport for the 112 troops that will participate in a six-month mission.
“You will return to Albania finding the country and the Albanian armed forces to be full NATO members and for this major achievement you have your contribution and we shall be grateful for that,” said Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa.
Albania received its membership invitation last year and expects to become a full NATO member this spring.
The tiny Balkan country also has peacekeeping troops in Bosnia and Georgia.
Its troops in Iraq returned home after serving almost six years alongside US troops.