Members of the Italian Military Mission (IMM) in Malta yesterday marked 91 years since the end of World War One.

After a short flag raising ceremony at Luqa Barracks, where the Italian national anthem was played, the IMM’s Commanding Officer, Colonel Rocco Vastola spoke of the importance the day has to Italian nationals and everyone associated with the IMM.

“This year marks 91 years since the signing of the armistice by victorious Italian troops with the Austrian-Hungarian army, at the conclusion of WWI. It was then that the Italian Tricolour was waved and celebrated at the cities of Trento and Trieste as a sign of political and social unity in Italy.

“Re-enactments of the struggles of soldiers in the trenches and barracks are taking place today in Italy. This gives recent generations an insight into the terrible situations the soldiers had to face at the time. Celebrations will reach their peak on Sunday, 8 November, at the Piazza del Popolo, in Rome,” said Colonel Vastola.

Apart from other short celebrations at the AFM’s Safi and Pembroke barracks, IMM military personnel and their families hosted a reception for local military and civilian authorities later on in the afternoon at the Luqa Barracks.

Annually, in the first week of November, the Italian state pays its respect to the 6,000 soldiers who lost their lives in WWI, with celebrations expressing the nation’s appreciation and respect towards all those military personnel who had fought and continue to still fight to defend Italian values in the world.

AFM Brigadier Commander Carmel Vassallo introduced Colonel Rocco Vastola as the new mission commanding officer of the Italian army in Malta towards the end of last month.

The IMM consists mainly of six components, divided into sections that deal with issues of commanding, logistics and training, as well as enhancing knowledge on navy, Search and Rescue (SAR) and coastguard services.

Saying that he was very proud to take on the new role, Colonel Vastola said that relations between the Italian army and the AFM are excellent, and constant collaborations take place between the two countries.

“As part of the IMM, we liaise with the AFM to improve regimental training, army coordination and to share knowledge about certain difficult circumstances, of which we are both uncertain. The two countries continuously strive not only to preach the importance of unity and peace, but to help each other so that these two virtues are achieved. Such is the extent of our friendship that we continuously allow AFM personnel who have just started out to come over to Italy and gain valuable knowledge and experience of what takes place in a different regimental system,” added Colonel Vastola.