"Serbia - underlined General Graziano during the meetings - is one of the main countries to play a leading role in the security of the entire Balkan region, which continues to be threatened by the possible resumption of migration flows and by the phenomenon of foreign fighters".
In emphasizing the link between Italy and Serbia, General Graziano recalled that relations between two countries are solid and long-standing and, a hundred years later, he also wanted to recall the work carried out by the Italian Armed Forces, in particular from the Navy, to save, between December 1915 and February 1916, the Serbian Army, forced on the Albanian coasts by the armies of the Central Powers. The evacuation, organized and conducted by the Italian sailors, then allowed the reorganization, in Greece, of about 145.000 Serbian soldiers, who later contributed to the reconquest of their motherland in October of the 1918.
"Strong of this historic friendship - added General Graziano - I trust in an equally rich future of cooperation, in the operational and training field, between our Armed Forces and in the commitment of our countries to seek new common goals".
"I believe it is important to support cooperation with the Serbian armed forces - has continued - as a factor of stability in support of Serbia's full integration into the European dimension and the normalization of regional relations".
General Graziano then greeted the contingent of the Serbian Armed Forces leaving for the UNIFIL Multinational Mission, where they will work closely with the Italian military. "The UNIFIL mission - said the general during the greeting - it is part of an extremely complex operating context, which sees the ever-present risk of the terrorist threat overlap with the historic tensions in the area. The primary purpose of the UN presence in the Country of the Cedars is to contribute to restoring the necessary stability and security, so that the Lebanese government regains the effective and full control of its southern part and can again guarantee normality to the people".
"In January 2007, when I assumed command of the UNIFIL mission - recalled the Chief of the Defense Staff - the South of Lebanon was strongly torn politically, economically and morally. Today, at 10 years since the deployment of that interposition force, the situation has improved considerably south of the Litani river thanks to the presence of the blue helmets, which are unanimously recognized as a key asset in the region".
"However, much remains to be done and the international community is called upon not to let its guard down. Those who leave for Lebanon know they have to devote every best energy to carrying out their task, with commitment and determination, aware that the success of the mission contributes to the stability of the Mediterranean basin and the balance of the entire Middle East, a historically crucial region for global security”, Concluded General Graziano.
