Defence Minister Kodheli official visit to United Kingdom

: Published: Friday, 12 December 2014 12:56

Kodheli: I am here today to convey the message that Albania is a good ally. We would like to further strengthen the Defence relations between the two countries.

The Defence Minister, Mrs. Kodheli is paying an official visit to UK. She was received by her counterpart, the UK Secretary of Defence, Mr. Michael Fallon. They discussed about the Defence relations between the two countries.

The Minister Kodheli also focused on the development of Albanian military capacities, on modernization of AAF and on the cooperation in military education.

Further, both ministers discussed on post Wales Summit developments especially on Ukraine crisis and on Syria and Iraq conflicts. The two ministers expressed the need to intensify the exchange of information regarding the foreign fighters. The Albanian contribution to the fight against the Islamic state was appreciated strongly by UK Secretary of Defence Mr. Michael Fallon. In that context, Mrs. Kodheli thanked the UK for the assistance provided to Albania in the transportation of arms and ammunition towards Iraqi Government.

They both evaluated the ongoing of the joint exercises between respective Armed Forces and both were positive about the future of “Albanian Lion” joint exercise.

During her stay in London, Minister Kodheli also met other personalities of the UK Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The focus of these meetings was the need to intensify the joint efforts in front of the new challenges that is facing the Alliance

Mrs. Kodheli did lecturing at the Royal Institute of the United Services (RUSI) where the focus was on the challenges of the Western Balkan countries, in front of the crisis in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Defence Minister Kodheli also took part at the promotion ceremony of military cadets at the Sandhurst’s Royal Military Academy. The Albanian Cadet, Albana Strori, completed successfully the education cycle for 2014. During that ceremony, Mrs. Kodheli met other international personalities, as the German Defence Minister, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen.