Italian Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti visits Force Command Headquarters onboard ITS Cavour
Rome, July 22 2015
On Friday 17 July, Italian Minister of Defense, Roberta Pinotti, accompanied by the Chief of Defense, General Claudio Graziano, visited the ITS Cavour which is currently the Flagship of the EU Naval Force – Mediterranenan (EUNAVFOR MED).
“I would like to express my greetings to the entire international staff engaged in the EUNAVFOR MED mission” said the Minister, Roberta Pinotti, while visiting the mission Force Command headquarters, based onboard the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour, deployed in the Southern Mediterranean Sea.
Minister Pinotti landed onboard the European fleet flagship, as she patrolled off the coast of Lampedusa, in the afternoon, together with the Chief of the Italian Defense, General Claudio Graziano, the Chief of Italian Navy, Vice Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi and the Commander in Chief of the Italian Fleet, Vice Admiral Filippo Maria Foffi.
The delegation was received by the EUNAVAFOR MED Operation Commander ,Italian Navy Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, together with the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Andrea Gueglio. “Minister Pinotti’s visit onboard the Italian vessel Cavour, flagship of the EU Naval Force under my command, was a great honor and a good opportunity to introduce my European multinational and joint staff, made up of highly professional officers and petty officers and their genuine enthusiasm in dealing with this “historic” mission” the Force Commander said.
EUNAVAFOR MED flagship Cavour started his mission by reaching the Southern Mediterranean Sea, on 27th of June, leading the EU Naval Force with around 600 people onboard. The international staff is made up of 56 people representing Italy, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Romania and Greece. The mission is currently employing about 1080 people at sea, among them 427 are coming from the mentioned European countries.
At present, the European fleet deployed in EUNAVFOR MED is made up of 4 vessels coming from Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and 3 air, land based, assets coming from Luxembourg, United Kingdom and France.
