Rumsfeld Praises Albania for Military Contribution in Iraq, Afghanistan

TIRANA, Sept. 26-27 – U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld visited Albania for two days Sept. 26-27 to discuss the country’s efforts to join NATO and security in the Balkans during an annual meeting of southeastern European defense ministers. Rumsfeld met with his Albanian counterpart, Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu, and also with Prime Minister Sali Berisha and President Alfred Moisiu thanking Albania for the troops sent to serve in Iraq. “We value our relationship, partnership with Albania. And we are deeply grateful for the troops who serve in Iraq and help to defend freedom,” he said after meeting with Mediu. “What you’re doing is historic. I believe when you look back to that in five, 10, 15, 20 years from now you’ll see the contribution you’ve made and the contribution your country has made, and take great pride in what you’ve done,” he said.
Albania, a predominantly Muslim country which hopes NATO will invite it to become a member at in 2008, backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Although it was unable to provide significant military support, it opened its airspace and offered U.S.-led forces the use of its bases. The Albanian army unit serves in Iraq under U.S.-led command in a non-combat role, mainly patrolling the airport in the Iraqi city of Mosul. “Albanian armed forces will stay on the side of the American armed forces in Iraq until the mission is over. We want to be the real partners of the American armed forces,” said Mediu.
Rumsfeld also awarded medals to a dozen Albanian soldiers who had served in Iraq and also the Global War on Terrorism medallion to the Albanian Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Pellumb Qazimi “in appreciation of his country’s contribution and steadfast commitment to fighting the global war on terror.”
The tiny Balkan country also has peacekeeping contingents in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
The secretary is facing growing criticism for the Iraq war at home, but he is finding leaders in the Balkan region eager to join the battle. Albanian military officials declared their unequivocal support for the United States’ battle against terrorism. And Montenegro’s prime minister said his small country would like to participate in peacekeeping operations. Albania currently has 120 troops in Iraq. Both Albania and Montenegro are working to gain admission to NATO and other international groups, and the U.S. has pledged to support their efforts.
“We value our relationship , partnership with Albania and we are deeply grateful for the troops who serve in Iraq and help to defend freedom. I should say there is always a question why should young men and young women go so many many miles away in a foreign country. I’ve been asked that question in many countries. If you think about it in afghanistan there are some 42 nations in a colaition and in iraq there are 34 countries. all have sent their finest to help in the war against terrorism. I can remember when I’ve been in the republic of Korea not too long ago i was asked by a young journalist, clearly too young to remember the Korean war. She said why should our young people go across the whole world to Iraq and Afghanistan and risk their lives on behalf of Korea. I pointed out to her that unless many young men and women show the will to go all over across the world to Korea and help defend freedom there, she would not be free today. What you’re being is historic. I believe when you look back to that in 5, 10, 15, 20 years from now and see the contribution you’ve made and the contribution your country has made and take great pride in what you’ve done. Now to families: and these lovely young ladies and young men. families also sacrifice. and i know and the minister knows, the people in the government had known it and you are appreciated for the sacrifice you make. Thank you so much.”
When questioned when the U.S. troops would withdraw from Iraq, he said, “It’s a very difficult thing to answer that question. It’s for the Iraqi people to provide for their government, it’s for the Iraqi people to provide for their own security and our task has been to assist them. They have developed the security forces capable for providing for security in their country. They’re now some 302,000 Iraqi security forces. We are involved as well NATO in helping to train them. They have been increasingly taking over responsibility for the security of the country. They provided all security for elections for example. They are assuming responsibility for a larger number of the towns. Two provinces have been turned over to Iraqi government, we are turning over military bases to the Iraqis. One can’t predict with perfect certainty the pace which that will happen. We known that responsibility, command and control are continuously increased for the Iraqis and decreased for the coalition forces. Our goal is obviously to recognize that the country is perfectly capable in governing itself and providing for their own security and the task is to give them the best point. I think they are making a good progress. I think they are going to achieve that goal and what we see during this year is a continuation of more and more responsibility given to them. But trying to put a specific date is unimaginable as President Bush has repeatedly said it’s the condition on the ground that will determine that pace and thus far they are proceeding all well.”
On a report from the intelligence services that the war in Iraq had increased rather than decreased terror threat, Rumsfeld responded that, “I don’t know if i van add anything beyond what the president of the U.S. has said and the director of the national security John Negroponte has said. Apparently some portions of it have been released and I understand that the president made the decision to declassify a number of the key judgment so that the American people and the world will be able to see the truth and precisely what that particular document says.
Asked on new members in NATO, he said that, “The U.S. has been in consistent in favor of enlarging NATO and every country participate in PfP progress. Of course that decision is particularly up to the countries involved. It is a good thing that more countries are participating in the PfP program and the U.S. encourage the enlargement.”
“Our country has been a strong supporter of NATO enlargement. Part of it involves the member nations 26 countries of NATO, part of it involves progress that individual nations that aspire to become part of NATO have to undertake on the way of reform. It is an interaction between the nations who aspire to join NATO and the nations in the NATO and their assessment as to the progress those countries are making with respect to the reform that are appropriate for NATO members. I look forward to see a number of country to join NATO in the period ahead.”
On Afghanistan, “I have been impressed by the extent to which NATO for the first time in its history has undertaken a major military activity outside of Europe, outside of NATO territory, and to the extent to which NATO countries 26 nations everyone of them is involved in one way or another contributing and committed to success in that Afghanistan effort. In any given moment forces rotate in and rotate out the supreme allied commander, the military command and the secretary-general have to go out to the nations and reminding them that there is a certain requirement and they periodically will be hearing the supreme allied commander asking the countries to fill in the gap whatever short of they might be. I have every confidence that NATO has full commitment in Afghanistan and the requirement from the commander on the ground be as necessary and appropriate fulfilled by the NATO nations and the PfP nations. the success in Afghanistan is important to Europe, it’s important to Asia and it’s important to 25-27 mln people in that country.”