517 military properties put on privatization list

TIRANA, July 13 – The Defence Ministry says it has identified 517 unused military properties for the privatization process. Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Defence Minister Arben Imami said a list of 150 other properties will be sent to the Economy Ministry within the next few days. Some 70 other military properties are being verified and freed of military equipment.
Imami said the ministry was interested in getting rid of the excess properties as soon as possible because of high management costs.
The properties for sale have already been published on the Defence Ministry’s website.
“The identification of properties not in use by the armed forces and their privatisation is part of the integrated action plan we have drafted to free the armed forces not only of excess properties but also of excess materials so that they are not a burden in the everyday activity of land, naval and air forces,” said Imami.
Since joining NATO in 2009, the Albanian military forces have undergone transformation, lifting the compulsory 1-year military service and creating a small professional army.