On February 15, at the compound of the Mosul Dam, the alternation ceremony was held at the Command of the Praesidium Task Force, between the personnel of the 3rd Alpine regiment and the colleagues of the 151st “Sassari” infantry regiment. The transfer of authority between Colonel Nicola Piasente - transferor - and Colonel Maurizio Settesoldi - successor - sanctioned the handover between the two units of the Italian Army.
The event was chaired by the commander of the national contingent in Iraq General Brigade Roberto Vannacci. To characterize the ceremony, the presence of the Italian, Iraqi and Coalition civil and military leaders who wanted to witness the delicate role of the Task Force Praesidium after the delicate change in the area between the Kurdish military component and that of Baghdad.
The presence, in the deployment, of units of the Counter Terrorism Service, of the Iraqi Army and Police.
Extraordinary integration work between the Iraqi and Italian security forces aimed at the safety of the entire area
During his speech General Najim, head of the Command that coordinates operations in northern Iraq, recalled: "the extraordinary work of integration between the Iraqi security forces and the Italian ones of the Praesidium that allowed to guarantee the full security of the Dam and of the whole area". Words of appreciation also came from the Italian ambassador in Iraq, Bruno Antonio Pasquino, who wanted to underline: "how Italy has been able to represent here at the Diga the best of its internationally recognized excellences and how the work done by 3 ° alpini has been a source of pride".
The complex stabilization program
During the six months of activity, the Praesidium, "was able to work in concert with the Iraqi forces, achieving unexpected results in terms of security, stabilization of the area and the support necessary for the regular development of work"As recalled by General Roberto Vannacci, commander of the Italian contingent in Iraq. In particular after the change occurred in the middle of October, the Alpine troops built a deep integration with the Iraqi security forces which increased the levels of safety and at the same time allowed to start a complex stabilization program that also facilitated the return of the various humanitarian organizations to build the area's reconstruction and development plan.
The presence in the stands of the deputy commander of the Coalition in Iraq and the commander of the operations of the Coalition in the north of the country, as well as the UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, embellished the ceremony testifying the importance of the actors with whom the Praesidium knew to establish deep bonds of esteem and mutual collaboration.
