TIRANA, May 3/ATA/-Albania’s Minister of Defence Olta Xhaçka stated that the USA is a reliable partner; it plays an important role in stability in the region and is promoter of the NATO’s open-door policy.
During an interview on television on Wednesday evening, Xhaçka said that, “Albania has already confirmed that at present it’s the most reliable ally in the NATO through its participation in the NATO’s operations and missions and through being a NATO-member.
Speaking about her meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis, she said that, “My proposal was for Albania to become a military base of the Alliance representing all the region”.
On his part, Mattis expressed his support for Albania which irrespective of the geographical dimensions has been a great contributor to the Alliance.
Albania’s operational commitments to the North Atlantic Alliance as compared to its population have been among the highest in the Alliance, said Minister Xhaçka.
In regard to the modernization challenge of the Army, Xhaçka emphasized that during the recent two years Albania has increased its defence budget within the envisaged indicators. “We have replaced all the old Chinese armament with armament up to the NATO standards,” she said./e.xh//r.e/p.s./
