Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Meeting with Albania's Minister of Defense Mimi Kodheli

Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout:
 

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with Albania's Minister of Defense Mimi Kodheli, today at the Pentagon.

Secretary Hagel thanked Minister Kodheli for her leadership in Albania's generous support to the Government of Iraq through resupply donations. Albania has played a leading role in the international effort underway to resupply Iraq's Kurdish forces with ammunition and equipment needed in the fight against ISIL.

The leaders discussed Albania's defense reform efforts, including the Albanian officers who recently graduated from the New Jersey National Guard Officer Candidate School. They agreed to continue to work together on building Albanian capacity for training and education.

Minister Kodheli highlighted the Albanian Ministry's efforts to modernize the Albanian armed forces with NATO-standard weapons, and encouraged U.S. defense investment in Albania.


Finally, Secretary Hagel noted Albania's support to the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, and thanked Albania for its commitment to the Resolute Support mission post-2014.