Ministero della Difesa

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"We are at the end of a very challenging year, where emerging international security threats have often upset the social balance in many countries, close to, as well as far from, our borders, but all of them equally marked by the loss of innocent lives. The recent terror attack in Strasbourg – where our fellow citizen Antonio Megalizzi was killed- is still causing immense pain. Italy is close to Antonio's family and to the French people".

The young journalist killed a few days ago during the terrorist attack in France was mentioned by Elisabetta Trenta in her speech, delivered at the traditional Holiday Wishes ceremony  with the Military Attachés, Veteran's Associations and Defence top ranks. The ceremony was also attended by Undersecretaries of State for Defence, Raffaele Volpi and Angelo Tofalo, the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies' Defence Committe, Gianluca Rizzo, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Enzo Vecciarelli, the Defence Secretary General and top ranks of the Armed Force and Customs Guard Corps.  

The Dean of the Corps of Foreign Military Attachés in Italy, B. Gen. Scech Aues Mao' Mahad, pronounced the opening speech, followed by  the speeches of the Chairman of the Standing National Committee of Armed Corps Associations, Gen. Mario Buscemi, and Chairman of the Italian Confederation of Veteran and Partisans' Associations, Claudio Betti.

In her speech, Minister Trenta quoted the results achieved in 2018: "A year characterized by crucial political decisions, originating from the strong will to cooperate expressed by a number of friendly and allied countries, which have re-defined the role of NATO and the EU in the international scenario in terms of concreteness and effectiveness".

European integration in the sector of Defence was for sure one of the most significant new initiatives:" A historical result,which confirms a strong new role for Europe as a global security provider, coming 11 years after the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon".

The establishment of Naples' Hub for the South, which proves that NATO looks with renewed interest in the southern flank of the Alliance and the Mediterranean.

"As regards the future, we will continue to rely on two strong and vital organizations, NATO and the European Union, to fight against international terrorism and maintain stability and security at the global level". Ministero Trenta said, underscoring the importance of strengthening  friendship and cooperation among states. "…(the latter) are the necessary conditions to respond to the uncertainy of the current geo-strategic scenario: a risk for our domestic and international security".

Then, Elisabetta Trenta thanked the Foreign Military Attachés for the job done and for the interest shown in common defence and security matters and policies. The Minister expressed the closeness of the Defence Ministry to the Veteran and Military Corps' Associations: "You are the custodians of the values and traditions of the Defence".

"Italy –the Minister concluded- is a vital country facing complex problems, but rich in resources, including human resources. Finding a solution to these issues is the fundamental task of politics, and sometimes the debate on how to give Italy a stable leadership and common vision with regard to our national interests is quite heated. This, however, simply proves our determination to look at the future with a protagonist's role".