Albania will send army unit to Lebanon

TIRANA, Nov. 3 – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Friday that an Albanian army unit would soon join the United Nations force in Lebanon. The announcement was made while the premier took part at an army training in Jube Sukth. Some 1,400 troops of all the forces took part in the training considered to be the biggest held recently from the Albanian armed forces. The troops were part of a fast reaction brigade that may be the unit to send the troops to Lebanon.
There was no detail given on the number, time and other details. It was said, however, that the unit of that brigade would take joint duties with the units of the Italian army “to assist, consolidate peace to our two friendly countries, Israel and Lebanon,” according to Berisha.
Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu also said that the unit would not consist only of the soldiers and their officers, but other army officers would be part of the command line in the Italian base. Hoping to join NATO by 2008, Tirana has sent small military units in international missions in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.