Deputy Secretary of USA Department of Defense
Gordon England in Tirana

30 September 2008. Invited from the minister of Defense Mr. Gazmend Oketa, arrived in Tirana on Monday afternoon for a two-day visit Deputy Secretary of USA Department of Defense Mr. Gordon England. This senior American official was welcomed by the minister of Defense Mr. Gazmend Oketa in “Mother Tereza” airport. It was also present the American ambassador in Tirana John Withers II.
After the reception, Deputy Secretary England, accompanied by Minister Oketa, visited the Amphitheater and Archeological Museum in Durres.
This morning, Deputy Secretary England was welcomed in an official ceremony by the gourds of honour and by the Minister of Defense Mr. Gazmend Oketa. After the execution of the National Anthem of the USA and Albania, both senior personalities had a special meeting. In this meeting there were present even the Deputy Ministers of Defense Zana Xhuka and Petrit Karabina, the chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Brigade General Maksim Malaj, the American ambassador in Tirana Withers, as well as other members of the American delegation.
After this meeting, it was held a ceremony for the decoration of Mr. Hesham Islam, Special Assistant for the International Issues of the Deputy Secretary of Defense of USA, who was decorated by the minister of Defense Oketa “For Special Services” with the motivation: “For the given contribution to consolidate the bilateral cooperation in the defense aspect between the USA and the Republic of Albania.”.
After that, Mr. Gordon England wrote down some notes in the Book of the Impressions of the Ministry of Defense.
After these ceremonies, Deputy Secretary England and Minister Oketa made the respective declarations to the media. “I would like to express my pleasure for the visit of Deputy Secretary of Defense of the USA, Mr. Gordon England, - said in his speech Mr. Oketa, - who is not only a personal friend, but also a special friend of Albania, who has given a great contribution and support in the efforts and reforms undertaken in our way towards the full membership in NATO. Thank you, Mr. England”.
“Taking advantage of this occasion, - continued Minister Oketa, - like all the Albanians, I would like to express my thanks in the name of the Armed Forces of Albania to President Bush, to the Senate and to the American Government for the important decision of the protocol ratification for the NATO membership”.
“During the meeting, - stressed our minister of Defense, - we appreciated the excellent cooperation, as well as we reconfirmed the will and the pleasure to continue in the future our common efforts in the preparation and modernization of our Armed Forces. We also made evident the positive climate in our region, which is contributing to the peace and security, a new image of the region, in which Albania has given its contribution to this climate. I express my confidence to Mr. England, like it has always been in the past as well as in the future: Albania and its Armed Forces will be a secure alley for the USA in the efforts for democracy, peace and global security. Albania will continue the way of the reforms with the belief and certitude that the next Summit of NATO will notify the full membership in NATO.
So once again, thank you Mr. Englad”.
American Deputy Secretary of Defense England emphasized: “It is a special pleasure being in Albania, in this beautiful country. Firstly, I would like to express my thanks to Minister Oketa and his wife for the great hospitality that they have offered to my wife and me since yesterday afternoon that we arrived in Tirana. The USA and Albania have been partners together for many years and we share the commitment for peace, security and democracy all around the region. Nowadays the Albanian Armed Forces support several operations of the United Nations and they also have an important role in the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. America expresses her deep gratitude for all the sacrifices and important contributions that has given your country. The USA share with you the aim to further progress the peace, security and prosperity in region. Last April, Albania received the official invitation to be a member of NATO and we are really willing towards next April, to the full membership of Albania in NATO.
In this visit, I would like to express my pleasure that last week, the USA Senate ratified the membership protocol of Albania in NATO. The USA strongly support Albania and we are willing that in the coming years the friendship that relates our countries will become stronger. I would like to express my thanks to Minister Oketa for his friendship, professionalism and his important contribution to further consolidate the relations between our two countries especially among the Ministry of Defense of Albania and USA Department of Defense. Minister Oketa has become a dear friend to me and I would like to thank him again for the hospitality that I received during my visit in Albania”.
Later this afternoon, Deputy Secretary England was received in special meetings even by the Prime Minister Mr. Sali Berisha and the President of the Republic Mr. Bamir Topi. In the Palace of the Brigades it was organized a ceremony for the decoration of Deputy Secretary of USA Defense Gordon England by the President of the Republic.
The visit of Deputy Secretary England continued with some visits to the National Museum and to the Castle of Kruja.

Admiral Di Paola official visit in Tirana

2 September 2008.Minister of Defense Gazmend Oketa received today in a special meeting the Chief of NATO Military Committee, Admiral Di Paola, who has visited our country heading a high NATO delegation.
Minister Oketa, after welcoming Admiral Di Paola for visiting our country, he informed him about the efforts and the achievements made by our Armed Forces in order to fulfill the objectives and standards for the full membership of our country in NATO. He appreciated the receiving of the membership invitation in NATO as a very important achievement, after several years of efforts of the Albanian government and the cooperation among the political forces. “Albania Membership in NATO, - stressed Minister Oketa, - is the realization of the most important objective for us. We are convinced that this membership serves our national interest, consolidates and enhances the security and stability in the region, but at the same time it will have a very positive impact on the social and economic development of our country. The membership constitutes a new phase of transition from the obligations as partners to obligations as allies”.
Minister Oketa appreciated as an important event the receiving of the invitation even from Croatia, as an important factor for the enhancement of the stability in region. We wish the same thing to Macedonia, pointed out the minister of Defense Oketa.
Referring to the future, he underlined the fact that we are decided to proceed further in order to finalize our efforts with the full membership in the next summit of the Alliance. The Ministry of Defense and the Albanian government are decided to continue the reforms, because they are our major priority, stresses Mr. Oketa. After that, he informed Admiral Di Paola about the achievements of the Armed Force; the progress of the reforms; the support of our in the fight against terrorism; the participation in the peacekeeping missions etc.
Minister of Defense focused even on the priority that the disposal of the exceed ammunition has in our country and he also informed the Admiral Di Paola on work done regarding this aspect. In relation to the project of the ammunition disposal, Mr. Oketa especially valued the role and the help given by NATO and the allied countries.
Admiral Di Paola, appreciating his special reception, emphasized the importance of this visit. He valued the historical moment of receiving the membership invitation of Albania as a very important event, which shows that our country has made gigantic and noticeable steps.
“Being NATO member, - he further underlined, - it is not easy, because it is not only a matter of honor, but also of great obligations: participation in peacekeeping operations; accomplishment of the reforms; cooperation with the allies etc. It is important for you as a Minister, - he stressed, - to demonstrate the strength in the fulfillment of your ideas.
Admiral Di Paola showed a great and special interest in the project details of the disposal of the exceed ammunition as well.
In this meeting it was also present the Chief of the General Staff of the AF, Brigadier General Maksim Malaj, as well as the chief of our office in NATO Major General Arjan Zaimi.