The ninth National Army contingent that consists of 40 service members, seven of whom are bomb disposal officers, goes on a peacekeeping operation under the Kosovo Force (KFOR). The contingent will be deployed at the Italian military basis Camp Vilaggio in Pech village and will work there for six months. The 33 service members will go on special military facilities guarding and patrolling missions, while the bomb disposal officers will examine the area, IPN reports.
In the parting ceremony, Minister of Defense Eugeniu Sturza said it became a nice tradition already to see off a new continent of service members. “I’m confident that you, the service members of the KFOR-9 contingent, will manage to become good ambassadors of our country in Kosovo and will make us proud of your performance. I ask you to do your job with honor and devotion, as you did at home in other missions. We expect you to come home in six months and report that the mission was accomplished!” he stated.
Attending the event, Chief of the Italian Defense General Staff, General Claudio Graziano said that Italy welcomes Moldova’s contribution to the KFOR multinational battle group. The Moldovan contingent is appreciated and recognized for its results. “The hard and successful work in the KFOR will consolidate the international image of the Republic of Moldova,” stated the official.
“We promise you that far from home, in Kosovo, we will fulfil our duties with professionalism and responsibility and will be interoperable with the service members of the other participating nations,” said the commander of the KFOR-9 contingent, lieutenant-colonel Veaceslav Balan.
The first Moldovan contingent left for Kosovo in March 2014. Over 300 officers and sub-officers of the National Army formed part of the other eight missions so far.
