Armed forces celebrate 99th anniversary

TIRANA, DEC. 4 – Albanian Armed Forces on Monday celebrated the 99th anniversary of their creation with a ceremony held at the Spiro Moisiu Military Academy in Tirana.
President of the Republic, Bamir Topi, also Commander of Albanian Armed Forces, and Defense Minister Arben Imami joined top military officials at the activity.
“This is a very special moment to discuss important issues related to national security strategies,” said President Topi.
“Albania is today a NATO member, but it wouldn′t have been a NATO member if were not for the powerful allies,” said Topi, highlighting the fact that “Albania is lucky to have by its side a strategic ally, the most powerful and democratic country in the world, the United States of America, which has assisted Albania in its great historical challenges.”
Minister Imami also said that Tirana would continue its assistance to Afghanistan, where it has now a few hundred armed troops along with the NATO mission.
Albania became a NATO member in 2009.