Captain Carol Florea, PR officer of the 2nd Infantry Battalion Calugareni deployed at An Nassiryah, Iraq, transmitted:

A military delegation headed by Major General Peter Jonathan Riley, commander of the Multinational Division South-East (MNDSE) visited Saturday, February 19, 05 the 2nd Infantry Battalion Calugareni. One of the delegation members was Brigade General Giovani Borrini, commander of the Italian Brigade Garibaldi to which the Romanian Battalion is subordinated and the officers from MNDSE command.

British and Italian officers were informed on the evolution of the situation in the Romanian forces area of responsibility, on the problems they are confronting during their missions and the operational capabilities the 2nd Infantry Battalion has within the Italian Joint Operational Force (ITJTF).

Speaking about the presence of the Romanian forces, General Riley said: you came here at a very important moment when the Iraqi authorities, police, armed forces and population are more confident in their future. In this moment, the priority of the Multinational Force is the reform of the security forces. General Riley also appreciated the fact that the Romanian Armed Forces answered to the request for supplementing the forces in the South of Iraq with another Infantry Company.

They analyzed the possibility to set in practice a project of civil-military cooperation for building a new water pumping station; this action should be coordinated by the Romanians in cooperation with the Iraqi authorities and financed by MNDSE.

At the end of the visit Generals Riley and Borrini watched a tactical exercise at the Garibaldi shooting range with combat firing from light and heavy infantry armament developed by the Romanian forces in cooperation with the Italian helicopters simulating a near air support mission.

MoND Press Office