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Brig.
Gen. Amilcare Casalotto, the COMMZ (W) Commander, leads
Albanian President Rexhep Meidani on a tour of the compound.
Meidani planned his visit to commemorate the one-year
anniversary of NATO troops in Kosovo and neighboring countries.
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TIRANA, Albania,
22 June 2000: "I would like to thank Communication Zone West
for its contribution in Albania," expressed Albanian President,
Rexhep Meidani, during his 13 June visit to the unit's headquarters.
Meidani planned his visit to coincide with the one-year anniversary
of NATO troops entering Kosovo.
The COMMZ (W)
Commander, Brig. Gen. Amilcare Casalotto, expressed his gratitude
to President Meidani for his visit and took advantage of a scheduled
press conference to tell the media about the accomplishments of
COMMZ (W) over the past year.
The main mission
of COMMZ (W) is to ensure transportation of logistics along Lines
of Communications from Albania into Kosovo and FYROM*. "We've
conducted more than 16,000 patrols, 190 convoy escorts, 1,400
helicopter missions and 1,200 flight hours in support of this
mission," briefed Casalotto.
Ensuring transportation
along LOCs isn't the only mission COMMZ (W) conducts. According
to Casalotto, COMMZ (W) is also concentrating on CIMIC activities
and will continue to do so throughout the coming year.
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An unidentified
Italian soldier with the Italian Field Hospital in Durres
tends to a MEDEVAC patient. The Field Hospital falls under
the command and control of COMMZ (W).
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Recently COMMZ
(W) and Engineers from the 6th Engineer Regiment (Rome, Italy)
removed several bunkers from three schoolyards in Durres. There
are plans to remove more bunkers near the ports in Durres harbor.
CIMIC activities
during the year also include donations of toys and medical supplies
to numerous schools and hospitals throughout Albania. One recent
donation took place in Puke, a city that took in more than 100,000
Kosovo refugees a year ago.
Engineers at
COMMZ (W) keep extremely busy. Recently a new taxiway at Rinas
Airport was completed and turned over to civilian authorities.
This project, supervised by the Engineer Staff of COMMZ (W), was
contracted out to a local business. Coordinating and developing
plans to improve some of the roads from Durres to Morini Pass
as well as repair a bridge will consume much of the Engineer's
time in the upcoming months.
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Albanian President
Rexhep Meidani is "inspecting" the troops.
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Last but not
least is the medical team of the Italian Military Field Hospital
in Durres who conducted more than 16,000 medical exams this past
year. In the past month alone they have treated several Albanian
patients that were medically evacuated for various injuries. President
Meidani made it a point to visit the Field Hospital and staff
and thank them for their care and dedication.
When a reporter
asked Brig. Gen. Casalotto how long he thought NATO is going to
stay in Albania, Casalotto said he'd need a crystal ball to give
the exact date, but added that NATO troops will remain in Albania
as long as necessary.
Regardless of
how long COMMZ (W) troops stay in Albania, Albanians can rest
assured that COMMZ (W) troops will continue to devote the same
level of commitment and mission dedication as it did this previous
year.
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