Albania needs 30 million Euros to eliminate 90,000 tons of excess ammunition

TIRANA, Sep 8 – Gen. Brig. Maksim Malaj, army chief-of-staff, said Sunday that the country needed 30 million Euros to dispose of some 90,000 tons of excess ammunition.
Malaj, in an interview with Shqip newspaper, said that with that money Albania would be able to dispose of ammunition through the end of 2010.
Trying to resolve the situation following the March 15 blast in Gerdec, which killed 26 and injured 300 persons, was a main activity of his daily work, the general said.
Two weeks ago, the army moved some 1,309 tons of shells to a safer place.
The general said they were cooperating with certain countries and NATO institutions to dispose of certain types of ammunition.
“Until we have a fully safe environment, the problem of disposing of excess ammunition remains one of the main commitments of the Defense Ministry and the army command,” he said.
Other important tasks included the creation of a fully professional army in 2010, completing the required standards for a NATO member country, preparation of military contingents taking part in international peacekeeping missions and others.
The army has 49 tasks to complete before becoming a full NATO member, likely next year.
Albania, along with Croatia, received its membership invitation in April and also signed the NATO membership protocol in July.
The army has prepared a plan for the disposal of some 90,000 tons of excess ammunition by the end of 2010, according to General Malaj.
Part of the ammunition will be disposed of at two specialized plants in the country in Polican and Mjekes.
Part of the ammunition will be disposed of through controlled explosion by specialized army units, he said, adding no foreign companies would be contracted for such works.
Gen. Malaj assumed his post last month after his predecessor, Gen. Luan Hoxha, lost his command in June as a result of the Gerdec tragedy.