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| Albanian firefighters ready to help eliminate fires in Greece |
The emergency with the wildfires that have engulfed Greece has led the Greek side to accept the assistance previously declined by Albania.
The Ministry of Defense of Albania has announced that 10 firefighting vehicles and 58 firefighters will now head to the neighboring country.
58 firefighting personnel, 10 vehicles from the Armed Forces, and other operational structures of the Albanian Civil Defense System, as well as firefighting structures from the municipalities of Korçë, Dropull, Maliq, and Gjirokastër, have been dispatched to assist Greece.
Earlier, after more than four hours at the Kapshtica border crossing, the Greek side turned back the firefighting units and vehicles that were heading to provide assistance.
The European Civil Protection Mechanism informed Albania that there is no longer a need for ground assistance regarding the fire situation, as it has been fulfilled by other EU countries.
This caused the dispatched firefighting teams to return.
It is learned that the firefighting teams stayed for several hours in the city of Bilisht and later in the Cangonj Forest.
However, after receiving the notification, they turned back.
The Minister of Defense, Taulant Balla, has stated that the Greek side has informed that the intervention with the ground modules offered by Albania is no longer necessary, as they have been fulfilled by other countries, according to local media.
Nevertheless, he added that the Ministry of Defense remains committed "to stand by friends, partners, and neighbors in every case where the threat necessitates reaffirming the principles that unite us."
According to him, through the Ministry of Defense and under the coordination of the National Civil Defense Agency, Albania has shown immediate readiness following a request for assistance sent by Greece to the European Civil Protection Mechanism.
"A team of 58 personnel and 10 vehicles from the Armed Forces and other operational structures of the Albanian Civil Defense System, specifically firefighting structures from the municipalities of Korçë, Dropull, Maliq, and Gjirokastër, were deployed near the neighboring state, assisting Greek colleagues, awaiting confirmation from the Greek side for intervention in the areas where they are needed."
Our thanks go out to Albania, for sending to Greece 48 firefighters and 9 vehicles to join us as we fight the wildfires in Alexandroupoli. Thank you, Albania. 🇦🇱🇬🇷@ediramaal
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) August 23, 2023
Contrary to what was reported earlier, Greece seems to have changed its mind and accepted Albania's help with a firefighting team for the serious situation created in the city of Alexandroupoli. The Prime Minister of the neighboring country has made a reaction on Twitter, thanking Albania for its solidarity.
"Our thanks go to Albania for sending 48 firefighters and 9 vehicles to Greece, which will join us as we fight the flames in Alexandroupoli. Thank you Albania", writes Mitsotakis on Twitter.