The end-of-year holidays, Minister Peleshi wishes the Albanian troops on international missions: We exalt the military figure, 30% salary increase for each member of the Armed Forces in 2022

Published: Friday, 31 December 2021 14:55

On the occasion of the end-of-year holidays, Defence Minister Niko Peleshi congratulated through a video conference the representatives of the Armed Forces, who serve in NATO military missions abroad.
By calling them ambassadors of Albania, Minister Peleshi praised the contribution of all effective in these difficult times. He stressed that Albania, although a small country ranks in the first countries in terms of active contribution to NATO.
During the message addressed to our representatives with missions abroad, the Defence Minister spoke about the achievements of 2021:

“This year that we are leaving behind was a successful year for the Armed Forces, for our security and defence, our national integrity, for the position and the strategic role that this year strengthened even more through the exercise "Defender - 2021", an exercise incomparable with any other exercise that was conducted. We were a host nation. We will constantly be a hosting nation for every Defender exercise, at least every two years they will take place in our region. This exercise created the opportunity for us to interact on a larger scale, but also to create a very strong awareness of how strategic and how important our role in the region is." , - emphasized Minister Peleshi.

According to the Defence Minister, next year we will have the advancement of the military figure in the Armed Forces, through the increase of the reward approved by the government: "We have approved in the government a reward of 30%, which means from the first soldier to the general there will be a 30% salary increase, which motivates us to recruit more and better. We are in a recruitment campaign all over Albania now. This year we are trying to make it more youthful. We will continue it in the city centres. We invite young men and women to talk to us, to get to know the army better, to better understand the role of the Armed Forces, what are the extraordinary opportunities that the Armed Forces like no other structure gives them ", - said further Mr. Peleshi.

While guaranteeing the continuation of the active role of Albania in all missions abroad, the Minister of Defence said that currently, Albania has a budget 30% higher, at 1.75% of GDP, to increase it by 2% in 2024, according to NATO provisions.

The Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Bajram Begaj also said that this was a year full of challenges and achievements for the Armed Forces and part of these achievements are these missions that make every Albanian proud.