“Today, a group of sportspeople who have raised the national flag to the highest peak on the world or European sports scene become part of the Armed Forces. This is a very special day because this group also includes 3 Albanian champions from Kosovo, who from today on will be together with the Albanian champions from Albania under the same flag, for the same mission with the same ambitions and will be united in function not only of sports, but also of the Armed Forces”, said Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that the involvement of these champions and their promotion today to the highest rank of colonel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania, as well as the rest with other ranks according to their achievements in sports, constitutes without any doubt an added moral and professional value beyond symbolism.

“I am very relieved today by another burden that our government finally removes from the back of the great inherited burdens of the past, because from today we can look in the eyes of the champions, but also all those dedicated to individual sports or collective, without lowering their heads from the madness, not to mention shame for their forgetfulness and oblivion”, said Rama.

The prime minister highlighted the fact that in the not too distant past, talented boys have raised flags of other countries in international activities, because their country did not give them any opportunity to compete for our national flag./p.s./

At the military promotion event of the Olympic, world and European champions, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi said that there are 7 elite sportspeople who are promoted to the rank of colonel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania.

Judo coach Majlinda Kelmendi and judokas Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova are now officially part of the Albanian Army with the rank of colonel.

Peleshi said that this promotion started as a commitment of the prime minister last year.

“Today, the relevant law is being implemented by giving the high rank of Colonel to our 7 elite sportspeople. There is also a constellation of other sportsmen who, based on this law, earn the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel”, added Peleshi.

Peleshi said that, “Their common feature is love for homeland. What brings us here today and gives legitimacy and extraordinary moral support to this gesture of the Albanian government and the Assembly, i.e. the extending of high ranks to elite sportsmen as they have achieved the highest results in the world under the flag of Albania”./p.s./