The Minister of Defence, Mr. Arben Imami met in a special meeting the Director of the Department for South and Central Europe in the U.S. State Department, Mr. Jonathan Moore. In the meeting attended deputy ambassador of the USA in Tirana, Mr. Henry Jardin, noa.a report.

Defence Minister Imami, after welcoming Mr. Jonathan Moore in our country, briefed on the progress of reforms in the Albanian Armed Forces, achievements and transformation they have undergone in these years, their commitment in peace operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc, plans and ambitions for their further modernization in the coming years.

Minister Imami stressed the priority that will take the preparation of Motorized Infantry Battalion, which is not only a priority requested by NATO, but will also increase and empower even more the Albanian Armed Forces.

For his side, the Director of the Department for South and Central Europe in the U.S. State Department, Mr. Jonathan Moore said that since 1991, when he first visited Albania and so far, he ascertains the major changes that have been made over the last 20 years.

Mr. Moore also assessed maximally the implemented reforms in the Ministry of Defence and Albanian Armed Forces, as well as the progress made in recent years for their modernization. A special assessment the senior U.S. official made for the contribution the AAF have provided and continue to provide in peacekeeping missions, especially now in Afghanistan.

Mr. Moore stopped on the strategic cooperation between the United States of America and Albania, between the U.S. and Albanian Armed Forces, and stressed that this cooperation will grow stronger in the future.

Minister Imami and Mr. Jonathan Moore continued the conversation and exchanged opinions about the situation in the Balkans, where it was assessed the role and contribution of Albania as a factor of stability.