President Serzh Sargsyan meets with Italy’s Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti

President Serzh Sargsyan, who has made an official visit to the Italian Republic, today held a meeting with Italy’s Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti.

At the meeting, the interlocutors discussed issues pertaining to the broadening of collaboration in the frame of the agreement on bilateral defense cooperation between the two counties.

The RA President and the Italian defense minister attached importance to the fact that the defense cooperation between Armenia and Italy is not limited to bilateral format and also embraces the peace-keeping sphere: the first international mission that Armenia joined in 2004, was the NATO peace-keeping mission in Kosovo which was followed by the missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

President Serzh Sargsyan noted that also owing to Mrs. Pinotti’s direct efforts, since last November, 32 Armenians have been fulfilling a peace-keeping mission in Lebanon under the leadership of UN peacekeeping forces under Italian command (maintenance of security of Shama military base), which, according to the President, can be considered as a successful start of Armenian-Italian cooperation.

Placing importance also on the sphere of education on the Armenian-Italian cooperation agenda, President Serzh Sargsyan praised Italy for the fact of giving student grants to Armenian servicemen for many years thanks to which Armenian officers are able to receive qualified education in the country. The President mentioned Artashes Danielyan, an alumnus of the Italian Military Academy, as an example of successful cooperation. He is the commander of our peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.

The interlocutors exchanged views on issues pertaining to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and security and stability in the South Caucasian region.

Following the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan and Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti took part in a video-conference held in the defense ministry with the Armenian and Italian soldiers fulfilling a joint peacekeeping mission in Lebanon under the auspices of the UN.

Cordially welcoming the officers and soldiers, President Serzh Sargsyan said the following: “Dear soldiers, officers, I am glad to start my official visit to Italy with this unique meeting with you which means that defense cooperation has its peculiar place in Armenian-Italian relations. I think most of you remember that 11 years ago, we, guided by a sense of collective responsibility in the security sphere, began to participate in peacekeeping missions. The first was in Kosovo, and taking into account the successful attempt, we continued it in Iraq, Afghanistan and now, with your immediate participation, in Lebanon. I would like to clearly stress the importance of the Lebanese mission to us: Lebanon not only in the very distant historical past, but also now is a friendly country for us. We have to return a favor to Lebanese, though we can never compensate for what they did for our sisters and brothers who had escaped from the genocide: they not only gave our compatriots an opportunity to live in their country, but also to preserve their indemnity and national dignity. I am proud and a bit excited with the fact that today the destiny afforded this opportunity to our peacekeeping forces and that it is you who have directly taken this opportunity.

I am also proud that Italian soldiers, who are famous internationally for their good qualities, are decent officers and are satisfied with your service. I was happy that just now the defense minister praised your service. Thank you.

We take pride in you in the homeland and ask you once again to remember that by fulfilling the given mission in Lebanon, you are making your contribution to the maintenance of peace not only in our region, but also in the entire world, and this is a very crucial mission.

I would like to emphasize once more – your homeland takes pride in you. I wish you to be courageous, resourceful and brave. Good Service.”