A new contingent of the National Army consisting of 41 service members, the 13th, leaves for Kosovo on July 12 to take part in the peacekeeping mission there, deployed at the Camp Vilaggio Italia. The team consists of an infantry platoon, a bomb squad and a weather forecaster. Their mission is to ensure guard and security in the area, to patrol together with the Italian forces, to identify mined fields or to train for mountaineering, IPN reports.
In the see-off ceremony, Prime Minister Ion Chicu wished the service members good luck and expressed his gratitude to the soldiers who took part in the KFOR operation since 2014. “During the last few years, the Moldovan service members had been deployed to work in different corners of the world, where the wars marked territories and destinies. That’s why today, once again, we express our appreciation to the over 480 soldiers who took part in the Mission in Kosovo, being real peace ambassadors. All our respect for your courage, bravery and devotion!” stated the official.
Minister of Defense Alexandru Pânzari said this mission is a signal of confidence sent by international organizations to the Republic of Moldova and an element of security export. ”There were chosen the best ones. It was a rigorous contest,” noted the minister, adding the soldiers were subject to special tests, including for knowledge of English and physical strength.
Diego Randazzo, deputy head of mission at Italy’s Embassy in Chisinau, said that after Moldova asked to be allowed to take part in the operation in Kosovo, Italy significantly contributed to the detaching of National Army contingents to the KFOR operation and those efforts resulted in excellent bilateral cooperation. “The deployment of the 13th contingent of the National Army to take part in the KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo is a concrete contribution to the efforts made by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to stabilize the situation in Western Balkans. Undoubtedly, your presence in KFOR shows that the international community trusts your professionalism that is essential for forming part of this military mission,” stated Diego Randazzo.
The mission in Kosovo will last for six months.
