Pabriks thanks Albania for its contribution in strengthening Latvia's defense

RIGA - Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks (For Development) has thanked Albania for its significant contribution to strengthening Latvia's defense by participating in the NATO Battlegroup in Latvia, the ministry's Military Public Relations Department told LETA.

The Minister also expressed support for Albania's integration into the European Union (EU).

On Tuesday, Pabriks met with Albanian Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi to discuss security issues in the Western Balkans and NATO matters, as well as opportunities to develop cooperation in the field of military industry.

During the meeting, the Latvian Minister of Defense informed his Albanian colleague about the security situation on the Latvian-Belarusian border, as well as discussed the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise Zapad 2021, which is due in September.

Pabriks also laid a wreath at the memorial to fallen Albanian soldiers in Tirana, commemorating two soldiers of the Albanian Armed Forces who suffered in an accident on May 6, 2019 during military training at the Adazi training area.