Soldiers from the 18th National Army contingent deployed to the KFOR peacekeeping force have completed their mission in Kosovo. During a welcome-home ceremony today, Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatîi, praised the performance of the latest deployment of troops in carriying out their mission as part of Moldova’s nine years of continuous presence in the KFOR force, as well as their contribution to the prestige that our country has recently acquired worldwide.
Minister Nosatîi thanked the governments of Italy and the Unites States for their training and logistical support offered to the Moldovan military in their participation in the KFOR mission, and also in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.
Mary Alexander, acting Deputy Head of the US Embassy in Moldova, noted that this mission of 26 nations demonstrates the international determination to maintain stability and peace in Europe.
Diego Randazzo, acting charge d’affaires of the Italian Embassy, thanked the Moldovan military for everything they did in the service of international peace and stability in the Western Balkans. “For Italy, in the current position of commander of the KFOR mission, it has been an honor to have you by our side and to count on you in the conduct of operations in Kosovo. Be proud of what you have done for your country and for the whole of Europe. Be proud to have demonstrated that the Republic of Moldova is not only a consumer, but also a provider of security and is fully with Europe and NATO for European and international peace”, declared Diego Randazzo.
For special merits within the KFOR mission, a group of soldiers received awards from the Moldovan Government and the National Army. Also during the ceremony, the outgoing Italian defense attaché, Colonel Ivano Antonio Romano, was awarded the “Consolidation of the Brotherhood of Arms” medal of the National Army for his significant contribution to the consolidation of Moldovan-Italian cooperation in the field of defense.
The 18th contingent of the National Army, consisting of 41 officers, sergeants and soldiers, was in Kosovo between January and July this year.
