5:10 p.m.
Albania's Defense Ministry says a warship has left to take part with the NATO "Sea Guardian" maritime force deployed to the Aegean Sea to stop smuggling of migrants from Turkey to Greece, a first mission of the kind for the country.
A statement Monday said that the 21-crewmember Oriku warship left the western port of Durres to join the NATO force under Dutch command monitoring the Aegean Sea.
This is a first maritime mission for Albania, which has previously taken part in an international military mission only with infantry troops.
Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has not been a major transit route for migrants through Europe so far, although small groups have tried crossing it to reach its northern neighbors.
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