My sincere thanks for the Romanian friends working together with us as brothers since the beginning of this mission. Thank you Romania! was the statement addressed to the Romanians by the commander of the Joint Operational Command of the Italian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Fabrizio Castagnetti during a ceremony, yesterday, in Mittica Camp, Iraq.

This occasion, Brigade General Roberto Ranucci, commander of Ariete Brigade received the command of the Joint Operational Force to whom the Romanians from the 20th Infantry Battalion Black Scorpions and the Military Police Company are subordinated.

Ariete Brigade also fulfilled a mission in Iraq, last year. The Brigade trained together with the soldiers from the 282nd Brigade Unirea Principatelor in Smardan firing field, Galati County, Romania, October 2004.

General Major James Dutton, commander of the Multinational Division South East, and US, British, Italian and Romanian officers from the Multinational Force participated to this event. Also, representatives of the local authorities, Iraqi police and armed forces from Dhi Qar province participated to the ceremony in Mittica Camp.

MoND Press Office