THE ITALIAN MILITARY MISSION CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF COLLABORATION WITH MALTA

From the 4th to the 6th of October 2013,  the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Missione Italiana di Collaborazione nel Campo della Difesa (MICCD) took place at the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Malta. The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Malta Giovanni Umberto De Vito, the Commander of the Mission, Col. Luca Mariz, the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Martin Xuereb,and by numerous representatives of institutions, the Maltese military Authorities, and the Diplomatic Corps. Rear Admiral Edoardo Compiani represented the Stato Maggiore della Difesa, who, the following day, took part in an important ceremony of an exchange of commemorative plaques at Luqa Barracks.

Over the years, the Italian Mission has developed  and adapted to the times, changing the staff and the remit of the Mission to cooperate with Malta  in a more efficient manner, providing training for hundreds of soldiers in order to improve the ability of response to common challenges. 

More recently, the Mission’s ability of intervention and transport by helicopter  offered an indispensable contribution to the Armed Forces of Malta in the rescue operations at sea  enabling  the AFM to save more than 400 persons.

The Italian-Maltese collaboration in the field of Defence represents a model also for dialogue with other Mediterranean Countries, in particular in the format 5 + 5.