This morning was held at Camp "Villaggio Italia", the rotation ceremony at the helm of the Multinational Battle Group West (MNBG-W), the Italian-led multinational unit operating in the western sector of Kosovo within the mission Kosovo Force (KFOR).
The men and women of the 62 ° infantry regiment "Sicily" of Catania and the 232 ° regiment broadcasts of Avellino replace the colleagues of the 4 ° regiment wagons of Persano and of the 11 ° regiment transmissions "Leonessa" of Civitavecchia who return to the homeland after six months of mission.
The transfer of responsibility between Colonel Salvatore Alessandro Sarcià, outgoing commander and Colonel Giovanni Giagheddu took place in the presence of the Italian ambassador in Kosovo, if Andreas Ferrarese, of the commander of KFOR, general of division Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta and of the deputy commander of the Interoperable Summit Operations Command (COI), air division general Stefano Vito Salamida as well as numerous civil, military and religious authorities convened for the occasion.
Words of appreciation for the significant contribution provided to the NATO mission by MNBG-W were formulated by General Miglietta joined by Colonel Sarcià, outgoing commander, who wanted to thank his soldiers for the incessant work done and the concrete results obtained in the field.
The tankers of the 4 regiment wagons conducted during the half-year mandate, 785 patrols appiedate, 3188 observation posts and 1594 motorized patrols, for a total of about 65.000 km traveled. The MNBG-W has also carried out numerous projects of civil-military cooperation aimed at improving the general living conditions of the local population, always operating in full respect of every culture, ethnicity, tradition and religious belief.
The MNBG-W has conducted over 200 meeting with local government and religious authorities and has made donations of various materials, including sportswear, school furniture and educational materials, over 20. Among the major achievements, we recall the project related to the supply of twelve technical equipment ARVA (avalanche detection equipment) and technical equipment in favor of the mountain rescue team of the municipality of Peja / Pec and the donation of hospital furnishings provided by the Hospital Company " Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord ", in favor of the medical center of the municipalities of Istog / Istok and Junik.
The infantry of the 62nd “Sicilia” infantry regiment will operate within the MNBG-W in a multinational team made up of Austrian, Moldovan and Slovenian soldiers. The war flag of the 62nd “Sicily” infantry regiment returns to Kosovo. In fact in 2008 the 62nd “Sicily” infantry regiment held the leadership of Task Force "Aquila", as part of the "Joint Enterprise" operation.
