05 March 2014
This morning, in the auditorium of the Ministry of Defence, it was held the ceremony of launching military advisory team coded MAT (Military Advisor Team-5), “Striking Eagle-5” in Afghanistan. The ceremony was attended by Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo, the U.S. Defence Attaché to our country, representatives of the U.S. Embassy and ODC, Land Force Commander, Major General Zyber Dushku, commanders of the main forces and supporting ones, directors of directories in GS, parents and relatives of the missionaries, etc.
The ceremony was greeted by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo. General Bazo in his speech conveyed special thanks to all those present at the ceremony. “I am proud to send in a common mission, our Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard. We are also proud of the cooperation with the U.S, for the great trust that has been shown, where our troops have performed duties side by side to the American militaries“, underlined General Bazo among others.
Furthermore, General Bazo, appreciated the successful accomplishments of the given tasks by the 5th contingent and other contingents, and expressed gratitude for the contribution that our Armed Forces are giving to these commitments, as well as the high message they convey as Albanian citizens and militaries to the international partners.
Concluding his address, General Bazo expressed that: “I have full confidence in your moral and professional values, mainly in your dedication. Be civic and human with the natives, in the performance of the service, because you’re going there to train them, to help and support in the difficult path of freedom and democracy. Honored our missionary family members! I want to express my respect to the support given by you, support which will make possible that this mission is going to ensure the coming success. I assure you that the higher authorities of the Albanian State, Ministry of Defence, and General Staff of the Armed Forces will always be close to you.”
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Jeronim Bazo handed the national flag to the contingent commander, Colonel Ardian Bali, who has promised that advisory team MAT–5 will carry out with honor and dignity the assigned mission. MAT military advisory team consists of 12 militaries, Albanian (AF) and American (National Guard of New Jersey). The purpose of this mission is assistance in training of the First Motorized Brigade of the Afghan Armed Forces.
