High resolution photos Official launch of Exercises Cooperative Longbow 07 and Cooperative Lancer 07 in Albania Topics NATO Exercises NATO's Partnership for Peace News 18 Sept. 2007 NATO exercises with partners in Albania External links Website of the host country dedicated to the exercise

Tirana, Albania – Earlier today, an official opening ceremony held by NATO, Partnership for Peace and Mediterranean Nations officially launched two exercises called Cooperative Longbow 07 and Cooperative Lancer 07 (CO LW / CO LR 07) in Tirana, Albania. 

Approximately 1,100 military personnel from Canada, Greece, Hungary, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ¹, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Switzerland, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates will take part in the two exercises from October 7 - 30, 2007.

“I would like to thank the NATO Headquarters and especially the Land Component Command, as well as all the partner countries for our effective cooperation,” said Mr. Fatmir Mediu, Albanian Minister of Defense as he welcomed participating countries during the official opening ceremony. “Albania is proud to align as a NATO partner country and display its values, efforts and contributions on peace and security, whenever and wherever asked.”

“This COOPERATIVE exercise is one building block towards achieving military interoperability - a common and mutual effort undertaken by both Alliance and Partner Nations,” said Lieutenant General Roland Kather, Commander Land Component Commanding Heidelberg during the opening ceremony.  “Each nation and individual represented here has unique goals and objectives for the exercise, but all share the goal of increasing the capability of our collective military interoperability.”

NATO’s Partnership for Peace exercises are a vital tool in developing and enhancing the ability of diverse international forces to work together effectively during NATO-led multinational peace support operations and crisis response operations.

The exercise is designed to allow participating nations to work more effectively and to better prepare for the challenging global security environment.

For additional information contact the NATO Media Information Centre at cooperative07@hotmail.com

1. Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.