Crosetto visits the Amerigo Vespucci, '2025 of peace'

Defence minister meets crew in Abu Dhabi, 'extraordinary feat'

By: ansa.it

Dec 28 2024
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Crosetto visits the Amerigo Ve

(by correspondent Domenico Palesse) A 2025 of "hope" and "peace", in the name of "respect" as the basis of civil coexistence.
    From Abu Dhabi, in the heart of the Middle East, comes the wish for the new year from the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates to greet the crew of the Amerigo Vespucci and inaugurate the Villaggio Italia, the traveling expo that accompanies the world tour of the Navy training ship, now in its 31st stop.
    From the stage on the dock of Zayed Port, the minister wanted not only to recall the strong bond between Italy and the United Arab Emirates but also to reiterate the country's commitment to finding peaceful solutions for the conflicts that are involving the Middle Eastern region and Eastern Europe.
    "We did it in Afghanistan, we did it and we do it in Lebanon - he said - we do it even when it is difficult to do so.
    "It was difficult in Lebanon to say 'no' when someone told us to get out of the way a few months ago.
    "We are staying to guarantee peace and if now in Lebanon a truce has been found it is because those who were in the mission at that time said 'no, we are staying here to defend peace', because peace is also defended in this way.
    "We are proud to do it and we are proud to do it with friends and the Emirates have been in these years and will be in the coming years.
    "At the end of every year - he stressed in his speech at the opening ceremony of the Villaggio Italia - we must give ourselves a hope, we have the duty and the right to hope.
    "So let's hope that next year we can put the threads of peace, understanding and tolerance back together".
    A reference in passing to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis was inevitable, in which he highlighted Italy's commitment to resolving the conflict.
    "We will do our best, I hope that in the next few days something can change in Gaza and as seemed impossible in Lebanon - he said - a balance can be found, a truce that is an exchange of freedom.
    "This is what we work for, this is our job, this is our task".
    Before the ceremony, Crosetto wanted to personally greet the crew of the Vespucci, to shake the hands of those who, for 17 months now, have been travelling around the world.
    "Thank you for the extraordinary feat for which many of you have been sacrificing yourself for hundreds of days - he said from the deck of the 'most beautiful sailing ship in the world'.
    "With the Vespucci we have shown that the armed forces are also something else. They are not only those who preserve freedom, peace and security but also those who know how to give honor to Italy".