Deputy Prime Minister Gazmend Oketa of Albania
Albanian Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa said on Wednesday that his country will send 95 more soldiers to Iraq.
Gazmend Oketa has been in office since Spring 2008 - mandated to transform the country's army - originally in place to support the then dictatorial regime - into a modern NATO force.
These are the qualities Oketa is now trying to instill in his army.
Deputy Prime Minister Gazmend Oketa took part today in the round-table meeting, organized by Polis University, IDR platform and Institute for Habitat Development, Co-Plan for issues concerning territory and architecture development.
TIRANA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Albanian Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa said on Wednesday that his country will send 95 more soldiers to Iraq.
Oketa said the new batch of troops, who could leave for Iraq in September, will serve in another part of Iraq, but still under US.
One of the most significant meetings of Minister Oketa was that with President of USA G.
In addition to the introduction as the newly appointed Minister of Defense, Minister Oketa has received the highest congratulations for his new and very important appointment as well as for the official invitation of Albania for NATO membership.
Minister Oketa expressed the sincere gratitude for the powerful support and contribution that USA and He personally has given for Albanias integration and its armed Forces into Euro-Atlantic Treaty.
Minister Oketa had a special meeting with Minister of Defense of Croatia, Branko Vukeli, whom he congratulated on having received the invitation for North Atlantic Treaty integration.
Minister Oketa has also met Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Eimert van Middlekoop, who expressed his congratulations for having received the invitation for NATO integration.
Minister Oketa was cordially congratulated by his Hungarian and Italian counterparts for Albanias invitation in NATO.
Later the Minister of Defence Gazmend Oketa took the word by saying: This is my first day as the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania and as such it is a special day.
Minister of Defence Gazmend Oketa has received in a meeting the ambassador of Netherlands Van Voorst tot Voorst.
During the meeting, Minister Oketa expressed the thanks to the Ambassador of Netherlands, for the contribution that his country has given in accomplishment if the standards for integration of the Armed Forces in NATO structures.
April 8th, 2008 Defence Minster Gazmend Oketa held a meeting with the Commander of NATO Staff (NHQT), Brigade General Vasil Dimitrov, on the office of this Command, near the Ministry of Defence.
Minister Oketa expressed his optimism regarding the reception of invitation, specifying that Now that everything is approved in the NATOs Summit, the most important period for US is just what comes after that.
In the frame of the bilateral meetings the Minister of Defence Gazmend Oketa received the Italian Ambassador in Tirana Saba DElia.
Minister Oketa expressed also special thanks for her country, for the support to the Summit.
April 11th, 2008 Minister of Defence Gazmend Oketa received a special meeting with the High Delegation of Kuwait, headed by Ismail Al Shati, counsellor of Prime Minster in Kuvajt.
Albanian Minister of Defense Gazmend Oketa said New Jersey provided critical assistance to help it reach its longstanding goal of NATO membership.
The Minister of Defense, Gazmend Oketa was sworn in today in front of the President of the Republic.
The swearing in ceremony of the new Minister of Defense, Gazmend Oketa took place today in the Presidency.
Albanian Defence Minister Gazmend Oketa was in Washington to discuss bilateral military ties Thursday (December 4th.
The United States called on Albania to continue its participation in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, Oketa said after meeting with US Deputy Defence Secretary Gordon England.
Oketa said that the government was looking to make Albania one of the most hospitable countries for foreign investment, highlighting the recent creation of a national business registration centre, aimed at making it easier to start a business in Albania.
Defence Minister Gazmend Oketa was present at a ceremony Thursday (December 18th) in Iraq at which troops lowered the Albanian flag.
Defense Ministry spokeswoman Albana Mustafaraj said the country's Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa has traveled to Iraq to bring back its 218 troops serving there.
Albanian Defence Minister Gazmend Oketa has travelled to Mosul to pick up the last remaining troops.
Also in diplomatic news this week: Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski visited Poland, and Albanian Defence Minister Gazmend Oketa was in.
Albanian Defense Minister Gazmend Oketa said New Jersey provided critical assistance to help it reach its long-standing goal of NATO membership.
During the ceremony, Oketa expressed his country`s gratitude for Turkish Armed Forces.
Oketa said that Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces were always supporting Albania`s NATO membership and defined bilateral relations as perfect.