Emergencies, US donate equipment to the Armed Forces: Minister Xhaçka : “A friend in need is a friend indeed!”

: Published: Tuesday, 30 January 2018 17:06

Albanian military men will be more trained and equipped to address the civil emergency situations. All this is made possible through the generous assistance offered by the American Government, which accepted the request sent last month by the Albanian government.

In the premises of the Supporting Command where recently there has been established a Center for Receiving and Managing Assistance, Minister Xhaçka and the US Ambassador Donald Lu, participated in a ceremony held on the occasion of receiving the first part of the assistance whose total value is 650 thousand dollars.

Minister Xhaçka thanked the Allied countries for the solidarity rendered during the latest floods directing explicitly to the United States of America for their contribution to the Albanian Armed Forces.
“Allow me to express on the behalf of the Albanian Government and myself the gratitude and thanks to our ally and strategic partner, USA, for the permanent, generous and unrestricted support to the Albanian Armed Forces. The difficult situation we experienced in December among others served as an indicator for the solidarity among partners and the common goal to help those in need due to the severe weather conditions. Minister Xhaçka stated: - Ambassador Lu, an old Albanian saying states “A friend in need, is a friend indeed!”

On his behalf, the Ambassador of the United States of America, Donald Lu praised the contribution of the Albanian Armed Forces in assisting the community and highlighted the willingness of the US military to respond positively to the request of the Albanian Government for assistance.

Ambassador Lu said: “We have seen you building bridges, saving children, flying helicopters and caring for the sick and injured. Following the terrible floods of the last year, the US military responded to your NATO request for disaster relief assistance. Today we are giving the General Directorate of Civil Emergencies the first shipment of disaster response equipment which has a total value of over 600 thousand dollars. We believe in the heroism of the Albanian Armed Forces and we are proud to support them in their mission to save lives within the country and abroad”.

The first part of the assistance, offered by the Office for Defense Cooperation (ODC) in the Ministry of Defense consists of 37 items and has a value of more than 260 thousand dollars. The assistance consists of Search and Rescue equipment, diving equipment and gears, water pumps and many humanitarian products and equipment. The second part of the aid package worth 650 thousand dollars is expected to be handed over to the AAF next month.