Defence Minister Ermal Nufi has seen off the first Albanian helicopter contingent that will join NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo. At the Farka Air Base, a send-off ceremony was held for 13 members of the Armed Forces, who will serve at the American military base “Bondsteel”, marking an important milestone for the Air Force and the expansion of Albania’s contribution to international operations.
During the ceremony, Minister Nufi described this commitment as proof of the professionalism of Albanian soldiers and of Albania’s dedication to its obligations as a NATO ally. “The contingent we are seeing off today is part of this effort. It shows that the Air Force is expanding its role and that our Armed Forces are consolidating their capabilities to carry out increasingly important tasks within NATO,” the minister said.
Among other things, he stated that Albania’s contribution to international security is not limited to this mission, but is also part of NATO, European Union and United Nations operations. Present at the ceremony were the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, the Commander of the Air Force, Brigadier General Voci, commanders and leaders of the Armed Forces, as well as family members of the personnel departing on the mission.
”For Albania, this mission has special importance, not only because of the fraternal and historical bond with Kosovo, but also because the security and stability of Kosovo are directly linked to the peace and security of Albania and our entire region. In this framework, our commitment to KFOR remains unwavering! We are fully dedicated to continuing to fulfil our responsibilities seriously, in close cooperation with our allies and partners, in service of common security.”, Nufi said.
