Oketa in Washington for rounds of meetings

TIRANA, May 26 – Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa made a visit to the United States last week to meet with deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, as well as White House and State Department officials.
This was Oketa’s first visit to Washington since Albania received its NATO membership invitation at the April Bucharest summit.
Oketa pledged his government’s commitment to fulfill all remaining requirements before accepting full NATO membership.
Oketa also said Albania sought to develop its army into a professional military by 2010.
Just days prior to being in Washington, Oketa visited the Albanian army unit serving in Afghanistan.
He also announced that 72 Albanian soldiers would soon leave as peacekeepers in Chad.
Further, Albania is participating in multinational activities with small army units in Bosnia and Iraq, where another company will soon be added.
Disposal of excess ammunition stored in the country is a major topic on Albania’s agenda, according to the minister, who said the country seeks to be fully rid of the armaments by 2010, thanks to the assistance of the U.S. and other countries.
Oketa also met with Deputy Secretaries of State John Negroponte, Daniel Fried and John Rood.
Later, Oketa met with James Jeffrey, deputy adviser to the National Security Souncil and former ambassador to Albania, followed by a meeting with powerful U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. (Tirana Times Staff)