Defense Minister visits Italy

TIRANA, Nov. 20 – Albanian Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu on Monday made a visit to Rome Italy where he met with his Italian counterpart Arturo Parisi, according to a ministry statement. The Albanian armed forces will send a peacekeeping army unit to Lebanon, something which was a main topic in their discussions. The minister discussed details with the Italian command and that would follow other diplomatic deals with the Untied Nations as well. That would be Albania’s fourth army unit sent in an international mission following those of Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. They are part of the tiny Balkan country’s efforts toward full membership into the Northern Alliance. Albania expectes to become a NATO member by 2008. the italian minister highly evaluated Albanian army reforms and pledged his country’s further support and aid. The Italian minister also said that Albania, Croatia and Macedonia that have created the Adriatic 3 Charter agreement should be the next NATO members in the 2008 Washington enlargement summit. Italy has been one of Albania’s key supporters for its army’s upgrade.