1 thousand military officers are certified by NATO, Xhaçka: Today we are equal among equals

Published: Sunday, 30 September 2018 16:35

Albania's Armed Forces nowadays have a full-fledged battalion squad, rated according to NATO standards. At the end of a weekly exercise "Albania Lion / Biza 18", attended by over 1 thousand and 200 hundred troops and military vehicles, Group Battalion of Light Infantry was certified as "Combat Ready" (ready for battle), under the monitoring of NATO experts.

Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka in her speech, at the end of the training, said that the Albanian Armed Forces have marked a turning point in their history, ranking equal among the equals.

“NATO certification of Group Battalion of Light Infantry and its declaration as as "Combat Ready" “ready for battle” marks the fulfillment of the most important part of our homework, the obligations of our Country’s Capacity Package to the Alliance. So without fear we might call this qualitative step, a historic event in our relations with NATO ", - stressed Minister Xhacka.

While congratulating the Armed Forces on their achievement, the Minister of Defense underlined that progress is tangible and that from now on the ambition will be, to fully modernize the Armed Forces structures.

“The Armed Forces are capable to complete every work and task that are charged with. Just the same way as they know how to perform combat and peacekeeping operations, they also know how to act in cases where no one else is able to do it. This is who you are, ready at any time in the service of citizens and the country. Thanks to your example, nowdays the young people that will choose to be part of AAF and very soon be part of NATO school , will have much more reasons to improve in the steps of their professional career within the AF, the same way their coleagues of the Aliance do it. Thanks to your example and contribution, from today, the eagle symbol in your uniforms will be even more present and more hopeful for everyone", - addressed the minister to the participants in the massive activity in Biza.

The Light Infantry Group Battalion (LIGB) during thecertified "Albanian Lion / Biza 18" exercise underwent a series of scenarios prepared on the best practices of NATO countries and based on the Alliance's doctrines as far as it relates to LIGB, thus testing the operational capabilities they possess, but also their professional skills in the field of combat.

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