The ceremony, which took place in the sports field of Olbia, was also an opportunity to greet the soldiers of the “Sassari” Brigade who will leave in February for a new ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission in Afghanistan.
During his speech, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Claudio Graziano, after thanking the Minister of Defense, Senator Mario Mauro, and all the intervening authorities, recalled that "the Sassari Brigade was born to defend Italy" and that "in the First World War, from 1915 to 1918, he paid a very high blood toll with 18% of the troops killed in the war."
"Now as then, the Sassari Brigade - General Graziano continued - continues to serve the country in operations abroad, from Bosnia to Kosovo, from Albania to Iraq and now back to Afghanistan".
On the sidelines of the ceremony, answering questions from the press, General Graziano highlighted that "the Sassari Brigade is returning to Afghanistan at a particularly challenging time, which is the transition, during which the responsibility for security will be handed over to the Afghan forces."
"The transition phase - declared the Army Chief of Staff - is an essential step since, as we have learned during all international operations, for there to truly be peace, strong local security structures must be created". "The soldiers of the Sassari Brigade - concluded General Graziano - will have the double ability to support and train the Afghan forces and to support the population as they have proven to know how to do here in Olbia during the flood, confirming that they are a resource for the country. "Numerous civil and military authorities took part in the ceremony including the President of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia Ugo Cappellacci, the Commander of the 2nd Command of the Defense Forces, General Vincenzo Lops, the mayor of Olbia Gianni Giovannelli, the Commander of the Autonomous Military Command of Sardinia, General Claudio Tozzi, the Ordinary Military Archbishop for Italy, Monsignor Santo Marcianò.
Source: General Office of the Army Chief of Staff - Public Information and Communication Office - Sz. PI
