US Pristina Mission: US battleship in Durres, no relation with Kosovo
24/04/2012
"Top Channel"

The dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall arrives in Durrës, Albania, Apr. 24, for a regularly scheduled port visit. This visit serves to continue U.S. 6th Fleet efforts to build global maritime partnerships with European nations and improve maritime safety and security.

685 troops of the military crew will stay until April 27th, based on the status of the agreement signed between the parties of the Northern Atlantic Tractat, ratified by the Parliament, and also based on other agreements between the member states “on the status of the US military forces in the Albanian Republic”.

While in port, the officers and crew will meet with local officials and participate in cultural activities.

Gunston Hall is conducting this port visit as part of a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

“US ship in Albania, no relation with Northern Kosovo”

The US Embassy in Prishtina denied the news published by some Kosovo media, that the USS Gunston Hall ship docked in Durres due to the Northern Kosovo turmoil.

The embassy explained that the US battleship is following a process for the US partnership reinforcement in a global scale.

“This visit has nothing to do with any of the events that have taken place recently in the region. This is a regular visit that offers a great opportunity for exchanging information, joint tactics and professionalism, with the goal to defend the region”, the declaration says.