Albania’s armed forces celebrate centennial

TIRANA, Dec. 4 – Albanian armed forces celebrated Tuesday Dec. 4 their 100th anniversary of creation with a parade and other festivities.
All top officials took part at the event including President and General Commander of the Armed Forces Bujar Nishani, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and Defense Minister Arben Imami, chief-of-staff Gen. Maj. Xhemal Gjunkxhi and also defense ministers from Kosovo, Macedonia and other western military diplomats in the country.
Albania is a NATO member since 2009.
Nishani said that due to that “our country has a higher level of security,” adding that membership also brings about some duties.
Albania has already taken part in many international peacekeeping mission and those of NATO. Now it is in Afghanistan and also in Bosnia.
It has had one casualty in Afghanistan, Capt. Feti Vogli.
The army is in the process of getting renovated with reforms in all its structures.
The navy had a new ship to guard the shores, Lisus, the third after Iliria and Oriku which is being built by the Albanian naval base with the Dutch assistance. The 220-ton Lisus is 42.7 meters long and 7.2 meters wide and it can sail with 26 knots per hour.
At the same day, Monday, the air forces had the first of the five helicopters coming from France. The Cougar helicopter also flew during the ceremony Tuesday.
During these days the armed forces also announced the end of the open pit detonations where they dispose of excess weaponry.
Albania has pledged it will give an end to the process of excess ammunition disposal during the first half next year.
The OSCE and Germany continued their assistance for the Polican Military Factory, in line with the OSCE’s efforts across the region with regard to arms control and the destruction of surplus weapons.
The Defense Ministry has launched in 2008 and it is implementing the Demilitarization Action Plan aiming to clean Albania from a dangerous heritage, which is all surplus of ammunition and weapons that represent a continuing threat to the security of people, the country and the region.
The German Government has provided 11 band-saws for the Mjekes and Poli袮 factories and also one steam generator. More than 2000 blades for these band-saws will allow the military factories of Poli袮 and Mjekes to move on in the destruction of ammunition.
Albania is a NATO member and it is committed to playing a positive role in a region aiming at integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
That needs further reforms.
The next year’s budget for the defense had, however, some frictions at the parliament where the opposition criticized the increased funding for the army intelligence and also its advertising saying they will be abused from the government in next year’s election campaign.