Albanian University of the Armed Forces (AF) has opened its doors for the first time 10 years since its closure. 

60 students will be in the first academic year as winners out of 600 applicants in total. The Minister of Defense, Olta Xhaçka in the ceremony held at the opening of the University said that it took a lot of work and determination to reopen it. 

Xhaçka further says that if the state does not invest in people, armaments and equipment are useless, adding that in a few years it will be seen as one of the key moments in the resurgence of the Armed Forces. 
 

"It took a lot of work and determination to reopen the Armed Forces Academy. Closing this University was one of the most incomprehensible decisions of transition. The Academy closed just 1 year after we joined NATO. The path of a modern and professional force passes through the Academy. 

I thank the USA, Turkey, Greece, Italy and England for their help in education during these years. Weapons and equipment are useless if we do not invest in our people. After a few years, the reopening of the AF Academy will be seen as one of the key moments of the AF resurgence. 

AF Academy is the only accredited institution of higher education in the field of security and defense. It offers exceptional employment and career opportunities in the Armed Forces and NATO. The Academy is finally recovering by filling a gap that has created quite a bit of cost for the AF. We aim to raise AF to the level of an academy of a NATO country," Xhaçka noted.