97 years of Engineering and Artillery, Xhaçka: 25 thousand inhabitants have new bridges and roads thank to the AAF's contribution

: Published: Monday, 22 January 2018 16:31

The 97th Anniversary of the establishment of the Engineering and Artillery Battalions finds then on terrain contributing on improving the lives of citizens all around Albania. At the special ceremony organized at the Armed Forces Command Battalion of the Armed Forces, Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka highlighted the achievements of these engineers in the civil emergency situation and their effective interventions at any difficult moment.

"Only in the last three months, the Engineering Battalion officials have helped over 25.000 residents in disaster affected areas by building 12 bridges. In addition to that, the engineering units have been involved in road repair, wetland swamps, construction of drainage channels, embankments, water supply systems, elimination of the consequences of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, and also the construction of tunnels and even our military bases. Successful handling of civil emergencies in the early days of December was the best indicator that the Armed Forces are fully in charge and capable of performing their duties showing patriotism and extraordinary dedication to work.

During civil emergency days, the engineers did not assist only in infrastructure, but were located near the residents delivering the supplies collected for them.

"In addition to the contribution to building bridges in a very short period of time, the Support Command's agents delivered over 800 ton of food and livestock products in 6 municipalities. More than 5 thousand families were assisted by the AAF’s staff to overcome the consequences of flooding", - said Minister Xhaçka

In the presence of the two battalions and ex-combatants and artillerymen, the Defense Minister underlined the modernization of the Armed Forces, as the main priority of the next four years.

Minister Xhaçka concluded her speech stating that: "I reaffirm that the Albanian Government and the Ministry of Defense are engaged in a modernization process of the Armed Forces, with the aim of enhancing and improving the operational capacities of our military structures, especially of those structures that are part of NATO's Collective Defense.