15th Albanian Peacekeeping Contingent departs for Afghanistan
Wednesday, 30 September 2009 13:59
Wednesday, 30 September 2009.
In the First Battalion of the Rapid Reaction in Vau i Dejes, Shkoder, it was held the ceremony of the 15th Peacekeeping Contingent who will conduct the next mission in Kabul, Afghanistan.
At the ceremony organized on this occasion was present Defense Minister Mr. Arben Imami, deputy chief of General Staff of Armed Forces Rear Admiral Kristaq Gerveni, generals and other senior militaries of the Armed Forces, as well as family members and relatives of the peacekeepers.
The ceremony was attended even by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana Hassan Asha, as well as military attaché and chief of the Office of Military Cooperation and Coordination of Turkey in Tirana Colonel Saim Bagci.
The 15th Peacekeeping contingent is part of the manpower of Vau i Dejes Battalion, depending on the Rapid Reaction Brigade, which is the priority of the FA units and plays an important role in the fulfillment of constitutional duties. The contingent consists of 22 officers, non-commissioned officers and professional soldiers. This contingent, which replaces the 14th Albanian Peacekeeping Contingent, will continue to perform its mission of preserving and protecting the military base in Kabul, and other security and stabilizing operations in this area of Afghanistan.
After the opening speech that held the commander of the Rapid Reaction
Brigade Brigadier General Victor Bërdaj, all those present at the
ceremony, were greeted by Defense Minister Mr. Arben Imami. “Albanians
are proud of you,-he addressed to the military peacekeepers- for the
mission, readiness and commitment to protect peace wherever it is
needed.
The military who will return from Afghanistan went there at a
time when we still had a great aspiration, NATO integration - continued
further Imam Minister, - Now, you go as a member of the Alliance. It
engages us more about the deployment of peace wherever it is needed. We
can not expect that someone else makes this for us. We must act, we
must serve for peace and security in the world ".
Imam Minister, has particularly praised cooperation with the Turkish peacekeeping troops in Kabul, and expressed his gratitude to Turkey and Turkish Armed Forces for the contribution they have made to the Albanian contingents that have served in the mission in Afghanistan.
At the end of his speech, he thanked the peacekeepers for their commitment to this important task and wished them a save journey back home after the successful completion of the mission in Afghanistan.
The ceremony welcomed the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana Hassan Asha, which, among others, praised the achievements listed in the process of transformation and modernization of Albanian Armed Forces, and their contribution in maintaining peace and the fight against terrorism. 
At the conclusion of the ceremony Minister Imam handed the national flag to the 15th contingent commander, Ferdinand Beqiri ensign, and then met the military peacekeepers and their families.
Rapid Reaction Brigade has sent 31 contingents in support of peace and the fight against terrorism in Kabul and Herat in Afghanistan under the framework of the ISAF, in Bosnia-Herzegovina under the framework the Althea mission and 6 medical teams in Kabul. First mission sent by RRB in Kabul has begun since August 2004. Military peacekeeping training was conducted with advanced programs, according to NATO standards and this has led to higher operational levels of our contingents. Albanian military, who have served in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan, have conducted with professionalism and high sense of responsibility all the charged duties and as a result of this they have been continuously estimated to the maximum by the operational commands, in whose jurisdiction they serve, raising above the honor and pride of the Albanian Armed Forces and Rapid Reaction Brigade.
To successfully realize their task, the 15th Peacekeeping contingent has undergone a 10 week training program for Peace Support Operations (OMP), which contains specific trainings to prepare our troops to accomplish successfully the mission in any kind of situation.
