Topic: Albanian troops will stay in Iraq as long as U.S. troops

Team Infidel

Media: The Associated Press
Byline:
Date: 25 September 2006


TIRANA, Albania_Albanian troops will stay in Iraq as long as United States
forces stay there, Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu said Monday.

"We have declared that we shall stay in Iraq as long as the U.S. forces stay
there to accomplish their mission," said the minister, announcing the visit
of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld Tuesday. He said Rumsfeld would
also take part at the annual meeting of defense ministers from southeastern
European countries the next day.

The Albanian army unit serves in Iraq under U.S.-led command in a non-combat
role, mainly patrolling the airport in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Albania, a predominantly Muslim country, strongly backed the U.S.-led war in
Iraq. Although it was unable to provide significant military support, it
opened its airspace and offered U.S.-led forces the use of its bases.

The tiny Balkan country also has peacekeeping contingents in Bosnia and
Afghanistan.

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