At the "Villaggio Italia" camp (Pejë/Peć, Kosovo), the handover ceremony between the 62nd infantry regiment "Sicilia" and the 183rd paratrooper regiment "Nembo" as regional command West of the KFOR mission took place.
The ceremony, chaired by Division General Enrico Barduani, commander of the KFOR mission, was attended by the Honorable Paola Maria Chiesa, member of the IV Defense Commission and of the Parliamentary Commission for Simplification, the Italian Ambassador to Kosovo Antonello De Riu, Division General Nicola Piasente, head of the department Planning and Exercises of the operational command of interforce forces (COVI) and numerous local civil and religious authorities.
General Barduani expressed words of appreciation to the personnel of the 62nd Regiment for the commitment and professionalism demonstrated during the mandate, which emphasized the Italian contribution to the NATO mission: “Your work reflects the excellence and dedication that characterizes our country. Your presence here is not only a sign of military commitment, but also a message of solidarity and hope for all communities in Kosovo”.
The relinquishing commander of the regional command West, Colonel Rocco Mundo, thanked his staff for their commitment and dedication, stressing that the success of the mission is the result of teamwork. He also expressed gratitude to the local authorities and the Kosovar population for their cooperation and support. “We are leaving a territory that we have helped to make safer, thanks to constant dialogue and joint work with local authorities and communities”, said Colonel Mundo.
The ceremony concluded with a round of applause for the Italian soldiers and a wish for good luck to the paratroopers of the “Nembo”, and to their commander, Colonel Francesco Errico, ready to work with determination in the service of peace and stability.
The Italian contingent of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), in line with the 1244 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1999, contributes to maintaining a safe and secure environment, as well as freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo, while simultaneously promoting activities in support of the institutions and the population, under the direction of the operational command of interforce forces.
