Oketa takes part at first meeting as a full NATO member

TIRANA, June 15 – Albanian Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa took part in Brussels at the meeting of the Defense Ministers of NATO countries, after the Summit of Strasbourg-Kehl, marking the country’s first official representation of Albania in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Commitments in Afghanistan and Kosovo were the main topics of the meeting.
Taking into consideration the improvement of the security situation in Kosova, the Defense Ministers agreed to begin a gradual withdrawal of KFOR troops. They appreciated the development of the security situation in Kosovo, so the withdrawal of the troops came as a result of the improved situation there.
NATO’s Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, in his last meeting as head of the alliance, congratulated and welcomed the two new ministers, Oketa and Croatian Minister Branko Vukelic.
“These Ministers represent for the first time two newer members that have joined NATO and for the first time they also participate in the meetings of this level,” said Scheffer.
The ministers also discussed defense policies during 2008-2009. They proposed reforms on development and the evaluation of military capacities and their modernization to guarantee and fulfill their peace and security missions.
They also discussed the challenges of each allied country, as well as approving the organization of a process regarding NATO defense politics.