Albania sent on Thursday another batch of 110 troops to Afghanistan to take part in the NATO-led ISAF mission on the ground in response to NATO's call to increase the alliance's military presence in the Asian country.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said at the send-off ceremony that the troops would be posted in the western province of Herat under the command of Italian forces.

"The peace-keeping mission is important not only in helping Afghanistan build its democratic future, but also for Albania's bid to become a NATO member," he said.

At a meeting held in Brussels on June 15, defense ministers from 26 NATO countries and 11 other countries, which are also contributing troops to Afghanistan, asked for more troops in Afghanistan.

Berisha said that the Albanian government would make every effort to get NATO membership invitation at the Bucharest summit next April.

For years, Albania has been longing to join NATO, hoping to get the signal to join the alliance by 2008. Berisha has said earlier that Albania is determined "to undertake any reforms and pay whatever price" to join the alliance.

During a visit to Albania on June 10, U.S. President George W. Bush said that Albania should carry on with the deepening of its political and military reforms and only then can its NATO membership be considered.

Albania has another 22 peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan serving under Turkish command. It has also sent 70 troops to Bosnia and 120 troops to Iraq respectively.