“For 25 years, Kfor has been committed with dedication to a fundamental mission for the stability of the region. I follow it carefully and see how the climate, sometimes deliberately heated at local level, makes the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina artificially complex. Yours work is crucial to keeping it alive.”
With these words, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella addressed the Italian soldiers involved in the KFOR command mission in Kosovo, during the traditional ceremony of greetings to the Italian contingents active in international operational theaters.
The Head of State then warned about the risk of external interference in the delicate situation in the Balkans. “The danger is very high. It is clear and easy to imagine the consequences that the absence of KFOR would have had in these years. Without you, there would have been explosions of violence that would have devastated the country”, he added.
Mattarella expressed deep gratitude for the work carried out by the Italian military in international missions, recalling their central role for global security. “My goal is to express gratitude for what is accomplished in the missions. It is an opportunity to underline how important the work carried out by the Armed Forces is for the Republic, the service rendered to the national community and the great contribution to security”.
There was also a thought for those killed in service, defined as the “heritage of memory of the Armed Forces”, and for the very high professionalism demonstrated by each operation. “The missions are all important, of great importance, even if of different caliber in terms of commitment and difficulty. However, an exemplary sense of duty emerges everywhere”, concluded Mattarella, reiterating the importance of the Italian presence in guaranteeing peace and stability in Balkans.
In the photo, Mattarella with General Carlo Gabigiosu, head of the KFOR contingent.
