TIRANA, May 13 – Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa made a visit to the United States where he participated in raising the Albanian flag at the NATO command in Norfolk, Virginia.
Oketa also met with US counterpart Robert Gates thanking him for US support in the country’s army reforms and NATO membership.
They discussed bilateral cooperation in defense, joint peacekeeping operations and the process of reforms in the Albanian army.
Albania had had its peacekeeping troops in Iraq, who withdrew last December, and also has a contingent in Afghanistan.
The two ministers also discussed developments in the Balkan region considering Albania as a factor of stability.
Albania’s and Croatia’s flags were raised at the NATO transformation command in Virginia.
Both countries became new NATO members April 1st.
Oketa visits US, Albanian flag at NATO headquarters
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