ALMEX 2011 arms fair in Tirana

TIRANA, Oct. 28 – The international exhibition of defense and regional security ALMEX 2011 was held last week at the National Historical Museum.
Defense Minister Arben Imami said that the three-day fair aimed to introduce the Armed Forces in service of the global security. It was held for the second consecutive year in Albania.
The public presentation of all kinds of weapons and heavy combat vehicles is the main purpose of this exhibition, where any domestic or foreign citizen had the opportunity for three days to see these weapons closely.
“This exhibition aims to introduce the Albanian Armed Forces, Ministry of Defense and other security institutions in the country, under the light of these modernization processes, of technology advancement and expectations, related to our Armed Forces, in function of territorial as well as collectively defense and security,” said Imami.
Imami also evaluated the cooperation and importance of the realization of the joint inter-agency initiative, which comes at a time when NATO is discussing about ‘Smart Defense’. He said that his country had launched the modernization of the military equipment, not only in the defense field but also in other security areas.
The exhibition was a parade of products and in cooperation with the other structures it also provided real-time demonstrations, including: shooting and field training, body to body combat simulations, demonstration of the technical transportation equipment, communication, and technological variety during operations by the Armed Forces.
Albania has plans to create a small force, completely professional and able to act and fulfill its mission within the national and international frame by 2018.
Albania became a NATO member country in 2009.