Albania’s Air forces will have officially a new commander as Brigade General Ylli Pulaj took over the post on Wednesday, official sources of the Defense Ministry reported.
Brigadier General Pulaj was handed over the combat flag of the Air Force by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Bajram Begaj in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Niko Peleshi and commanders of other forces.
Minister Peleshi considered this a deserved moment for Brigadier General Pulaj, who on the proposal of the Minister of Defense was decreed by the President as Brigadier General and then as Commander of the Armed Forces.
But, according to Minister Peleshi, this force faces many challenges ahead in relation to NATO membership, cooperation with the strategic partner US, but also the contribution it gives throughout the year to the community of Civil Emergencies.
“We will enrich it, we will modernize it, we will increase the internal capacity for maintenance and readiness, but of course we will also consolidate a new relationship already concretized with NATO, with the NATO Procurement Agency, thanks to which as we tried, we have a very fast response in the maintenance, repair, service of our air fleet,” said Minister Peleshi.
Expressing gratitude for the trust given, Brigadier General Ylli Pulaj said that the work priorities of the Air Force will focus on increasing the efficiency of operational use of aircraft, increasing national air surveillance capacity and improving the exchange of aerial view with structures of NATO, increase professional assistance to NATO fighter jets in carrying out their air policing mission in the airspace of the Republic of Albania.
According to him, the air force will increase professionalism during operations in support of the civilian population and state authorities
Brigadier General Ylli Pulaj has served in various positions at home and abroad during his career, and most recently held the position of Deputy Commander of the Air Force. / Argumentum.al
