The Armed Forces celebrated its 112th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the country with a ceremony at the Skënderbej military garrison in the capital.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu, Deputy Ministers Dorian Tola and Enkelejd Joti, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, members of Parliament, military commanders, and accredited military attachés, while active troops formed the units.
At the beginning of his speech, Minister Vengu considered the decision to create the Albanian National Army just six days after the declaration of independence not only an administrative act but a founding act of modern Albania, defining defense and security as vital issues for the newly formed state: “There can be no independence without self-defense, and there can be no state-building without ensuring the conditions of continuity. In this sense, the establishment of the Armed Forces was an act of independence, accompanied by the mission of sovereignty,” said Minister Vengu.
He also paid tribute to the men and women who founded and developed the Albanian Army and highlighted the current challenges facing the armed forces: “Today, 112 years after the founding act, 80 years after the act of resistance, 15 years after the affirmation of our Euro-Atlantic vocation, while enjoying the benefits of collective security provided by the most successful alliance in modern history, we are confronted with new threats that are not only on the horizon but are becoming more and more tangible. Today, we must reflect on continuity and mission, on the nation and its aspirations. In these 10 years, excellent and comprehensive work has been done to strengthen and modernize. But we still have a lot of work to do. Today, Albanian soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers are better prepared, better trained, better educated, better equipped, and better cared for. In this context, I would like to express our deep gratitude to all allies and partners who have contributed and continue to contribute to the modernization of our Armed Forces,” added Minister Vengu, who also paid tribute to those who have fallen in the line of duty.
For his part, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, said that throughout its history, the Armed Forces have reflected the best national values, demonstrating commitment and professionalism while constantly transforming and modernizing to enhance operational capabilities to fulfill its constitutional mission and contribute to peace and security.
At the end of the ceremony, the Ceremonial Unit and the Military Brass Band performed a ceremonial parade, while Minister Vengu met with the families of fallen soldiers and high school students attending the event.