Abu Dhabi greets the Vespucci, 31st stage begins

Second stop in the Persian Gulf, Crosetto arrives Saturday

By: ansa.it

Dec 27 2024
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Abu Dhabi greets the Vespucci,

(by correspondent Domenico Palesse) The 31st stage of the Amerigo Vespucci's world tour officially began with the welcoming ceremony on the quayside of Abu Dhabi's Zayed Port, the second in the Persian Gulf.
    The "stop for loved ones", as Commander Giuseppe Lai called it, because this time, in addition to the institutions, the crew of the Navy training ship were also welcomed by the families of the officers and sailors who have been sailing around the world for 17 months now.
    "The Vespucci is carrying out a unique feat," said the commander in chief of the naval team, Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, "it is carrying a great message from Italy around the globe." To the tune of the Guardia di Finanza and Abu Dhabi Navy bands, the Emirates capital gave its personal welcome to the "most beautiful ship in the world" in the presence of the admiral, as well as the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi, the Italian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Lorenzo Fanara, and Sheikh Ahmed Hamdan Al Nahyan, member of the royal family and president of the Sailing and Rowing Federation.
    Tomorrow, Saturday, the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, is also expected in Abu Dhabi, who will attend the inauguration of the Villaggio Italia, the traveling expo that accompanies the world tour.
    On Sunday, the President of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house), Lorenzo Fontana, will come aboard.
    Abu Dhabi is the second stop in the Persian Gulf for the Amerigo Vespucci, in a particularly complicated historical and geopolitical moment.
    In the next few days, in fact, the training ship will cross the Red Sea, an area considered at high risk especially because of the Houthi attacks.
    "We - said De Carolis - will organize ourselves to escort her adequately. From my office in Rome I will take care of the operational control of this activity. "The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb is subjected to some threats that we have been dealing with since the beginning of this year.
    "Our crews escort the ships very effectively and keep open a very important maritime communication route not only for the Italian and European economy but for the entire region".
    "The Vespucci," said Captain Lai, "is a messenger of peace.
    "It has in its soul the founding values ;;of the Italian Republic.
    "We recognize ourselves in this, in the values ;;of the oath that the cadets take when they enter the academy and that is repeated in other forms in the training that is done on board the Amerigo Vespucci".