"The Italian Armed Forces are a garrison of peace. Know that Italy counts on you and that your precious work increases the prestige of our country ”.
This was said this morning by the president of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini in Shama, in southern Lebanon, where she went for a visit to the thousand "Blue Helmets" of the Italian contingent of UNIFIL, the UN interposition force deployed on the border with Israel.
President Boldrini, accompanied by General Luciano Portolano, head of mission and commander of the UN force in Lebanon, was welcomed on arrival by the commander of the western sector of UNIFIL.
Discussions focused on civil-military cooperation projects implemented in favor of the local population, issues related to monitoring cessation of hostilities and strategic cooperation with the Lebanese armed forces for the security and stability of the area.
On the discussion table also the point on the Middle East question with particular reference to the Syrian node and the implications in the operational context in the South of Lebanon, "a social reality in which the Italian contingent engages through dialogue and mutual respect", declared the commander of the western sector, "in the conviction of the centrality of this country as a crucial region for the future of the Middle East and of Europe on the global security front".
At the end of the meeting, Boldrini greeted the Italian "Blue Helmets" to whom it expressed the appreciation and gratitude of the nation for the results obtained "in the field", the result of the particular approach towards the population and local institutions.
The visit of the president of the chamber ended with the signing of the honor rolls, the traditional exchange of gifts and a lunch eaten together with the Italian soldiers in the basement canteen.
