ALBANIA OFFERS NEW ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000185 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, SECDEF FOR OSD/AWINTERNITZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AL SUBJECT: ALBANIA OFFERS NEW ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS REF: STATE 19516 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN L. WITHERS II REASONS 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (C) Minister of Defense Mediu and President Topi have informally suggested Albania might contribute to an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT). Albania will have almost 500 troops deployed on various missions when it sends a second company to Iraq later this year. On a per capita basis, Albania is one of the highest troop contributors in the EAPC. ¶2. (C) Post questions whether the MOD has the combat experience to field an effective OMLT. We have advised the MOD not to stretch itself too thin and focus on training and equipment modernization to become a better NATO partner. Albania is a net recipient of military assistance and would therefore not be in a position to make donations of goods and equipment to ISAF. WITHERS