New Jersey Guard general visits Albania

TIRANA, Feb. 12 – Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu met Tuesday with Gen. Maj. Glenn K. Rieth, commander of the National Guard of New Jersey, United States, visiting Albania at the head of a large military delegation.
The visit aimed at further strengthening the military cooperation between the Albanian armed forces and the New Jersey National Guard as well as increasing the latter’s commitment in the transformation and modernization of the Albanian army. The minister told the general about the process made by the Albanian armed forces in complying with the standards and also overall efforts in the country looking forward to receiving a membership invitation at NATO’s April summit in Bucharest.
The minister pledged that during the days leading up to the Bucharest summit Albanian authorities would be committed to the maximum effort to fulfill all the required standards and said, “We are optimistic about receiving the membership invitation to join NATO.” During the visit of the U.S. general, a team of eight medical experts will teach correct medical techniques by inoculating the entire population living in Zall Herr near the army base. A similar round of vaccinating the public was held in July last year.