TIRANA, April 19/ATA/-Albania’s Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka visited the Pentagon for the second time this current year and met the acting United States Secretary of Defence Patrick M. Shanahan.
Xhaçka considered the United States a great friend and ally of the Albanian people. According to her, the destiny of the region would have been different without the U.S. support.
The defence minister expressed grateful thanks to the U.S. for standing by our side in the main reforms undertaken for building strong democratic institutions, consolidation of the rule of law and especially the justice reform.
“We hope that the works begin within the current year in the first air base of the Alliance in the region, in Kuçova”, said she.
On his part, Shanahan said that Albania is a strong partner and model ally. He highlighted Albania’s participation in the peacekeeping missions as well as the objective of the government of Albania of having a defence budget at the amount of 2% of the GDP.
During her stay in Washington, Minister of Defence Xhaçka also concluded an agreement on upgrade of the Armed Forces.
According to this agreement, Albania is expected to get several Black Hawk helicopters from the USA with maintenance and training of the crew guaranteed./p.s./
