Ship from Aegean sea return, Xhaçka: Nothing compares to salvation coming from an Albanian’s hand

: Published: Sunday, 26 November 2017 16:41

"Oriku" ship, part of the Albanian Naval Fleet has returned home after a year in the Aegean Sea, in the framework of NATO "AEGEAN SEA" operation.
From 21 November last year and so far, six "Oriku" crew P-132 have participated in dozens of operations in the Aegean Sea, as part of international efforts to stop illegal trafficking and migration in this troubled region. The result of these operations is to provide relief and rescue of about 1 thousand people of different ages, genders and nationalities - Syrian, Nigerian, Iraqi, Somali, Yemeni, Congolese, etc., from the Turkish coasts to the Greek shores or other EU countries.

At the ceremony organized at Durrës Port, Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka said that the presence of "Oriku" ship in the Aegean Sea is the best example of leaving behind any rhetoric when it comes to serving on a NATO mission.

"And what success! A thousand lives rescued this year, a thousand people who thank the red flag with the double-headed eagle. We thank you all, military members of our Naval Force, for extending the hand of hope and the light of life where the terror of terror and absence of the future forced a large human colony to exodus far from Syria and Iraq, the Minister said in her speech.

She appreciated the contribution of all Albanian military members on all peacekeeping missions where Albania participates, such as those in Afghanistan and Kosovo, which Minister Xhaçka visited during the past week.

"Wherever I went and anyone I met, I was shown high regard about all Albanian servicemen, our siblings who in every difficult situation are excellent examples of professionalism. I want to share with you the utmost appreciation of the Resolute Support Mission Commanders in Afghanistan and KFOR in Kosovo, who asked me to send more Albanian soldiers to them. The same regard was shown two weeks ago by Canadian and Latvian ministers for our boys who are part of the NATO Forward Presence in Latvia. Wherever you go, keep on honoring us. Nothing compares to salvation coming from an Albanian’s hand", the Minister of Defense concluded her speech.

Albania will extend by one year its stay in the Aegean Sea and soon part of the mission will be “Butrinti” ship with a 17-member crew. This ship will for the first time be equipped with weapons, an innovation in Albanian patrol ships. In the last contingent in the Aegean, part of the crew were also two females in uniform.