"by Antonella Cinelli
Nasiriyah, Iraq (Reuters) -" The mission 'Antica Babilonia' is ended. "With these words, the Defence Minister Arturo Parisi has now enshrined the Italian end of the military in Iraq , three and a half years since its inception.
the presence of the last 44 soldiers in Nasiriyah was even lowered the flag to December 7 in Caserta will be delivered to the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano during a ceremony for the return Garibaldi Brigade, the last to take part in the mission that opened in June 2003.
A mission in which they killed 32 Italian soldiers and Italy which cost 1.5 billion euro.
Last nucleus of the Italian troops left Iraq after ammainabandiera. A part of the military will be received tomorrow Rome's Ciampino airport by Prime Minister Romano Prodi, while others are directed to Naples on board a C130.
"We achieved the first goal, helping the Iraqis to do alone," Parisi told reporters shortly before the ceremony at the base of Tallil, near Nasiriya.
Parisi then returned to reiterate in his speech - delivered in the presence of the Iraqi and American soldiers and Romania - the commitment Italy to Iraq "will continue through enhanced cooperation in political, civil, humanitarian and reconstruction support for the institutions of the country."
"I hope that everything that Italy has done for us is an example for those who take after the task of overseeing the southern province of Dhi Qar," said Aziz, the governor of Al-Nasiriyah Ogheli referring to the Australians, from the liable November 1 of the 'overwatching. "
The governor pointed out "our Italian brothers (who) have mingled their blood in order to achieve our freedom and democracy and fight the terrorists."
The worst incident dates back to November 12, 2003, when a tanker explosive charge was thrown at the base of the Mistral police in a suicide attack killed 19 Italians - 17 military and two civilians - and nine Iraqis.
Relatives of some of the soldiers killed have asked Prodi, on the third anniversary of the massacre, for clarification about the matter, being investigated by the prosecutor of Rome.
In all, 39 Italians who died in Iraq in recent years, including civilian casualties and the official SISMI Nicola Calipari, was killed in Baghdad by the Americans in March 2005.
A PROVINCE PIU 'SAFE?
The tasks of the Italian contingent had spent formally on September 21, when responsibility for security had been transferred to the authorities in Dhi Qar province in the country after the second of Muthanna back under Iraqi control.
Security is handled now by local police and soldiers, many of them trained by the Italians own: 12,000 agents and 3,500 members of the Iraqi army, according to figures from the Ministry. It is about 800 units more than the number provided in September, when he had already completed the training and activities related to official data 13,000 policemen and 1,700 soldiers.
"We have made the province of Dhi Qar more stable and more secure ... the authorities take the socio-economic conditions have visibly improved," he told reporters il comandante del contingente, il generale Carmine De Pascale.
Un risultato che già lo scorso settembre il ministro Parisi definiì "splendido", anche se non tutti sono convinti che la sicurezza sia davvero così migliorata a Nassiriya, peraltro relativamente tranquilla rispetto ad altre zone del Paese.
"Per raggiungere gli obiettivi e terminare l'addestramento, negli ultimi tempi i criteri di selezione (di aspiranti poliziotti e soldati) sono stati meno rigidi", spiegava nei giorni scorsi a Reuters una fonte della Difesa.
E all'arrivo a Tallil ai giornalisti viene detto che fare in caso di attacchi di mortaio, sempre possibili.
Il centrosinistra ha comunque mantenuto la promessa di concludere la missione entro "l'autunno" - anche se i tempi non sono poi molto diversi da quelli che si era dato il precedente esecutivo, che aveva garantito il ritiro dei militari entro l'anno.
La chiusura di "Antica Babilonia" è considerato un successo dal governo, ed è un punto di riferimento per settori della sinistra radicale che chiedono sempre più insistentemente per l'Afghanistan la stessa soluzione.
Così oggi nulla è stato lasciato al caso, la sceneggiatura è stata curata nei dettagli.
L'ultimo punto del programma, distribuito dal ministero a giornalisti e operatori, recitava: "Chiusura del portellone, inizio rullaggio del C130 (L'aereo si ferma dopo pochi metri per television operators to recover stranded for shooting). "
And tomorrow we continue with the return to Ciampino, with a list of members of the majority that it appears they are extending these hours for an event that falls on the day of the most important manifestation of the center against the government.
"It 's been a lot of WORK
their part, the military claim to have done a great job in Nasiriyah. A microphone off some official stresses that the Americans and British are studying the modus operandi of the Italians on the field because "we have obtained better results."
One fact on which the General De Pascale merely commenting: "We have reached a good result thanks to a number of factors, including our approach to the population, the fact that we have always involved the local authorities in decision making. We proposed as a support. "
" The Italians have done a great job, "said an American who works with Reuters in cooperation, asking to remain anonymous.
" The situation was very dangerous when they arrived, but they are managed to establish very good relations (with authorities and population) and to change things. We can learn from them, although it must be said that Americans do not help matters here ...", he added.
And a Iraqi, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters in Nasiriyah c'è chi è preoccupato che "con chi verrà dopo gli italiani non sia lo stesso. Voi eravate un punto di riferimento, eravamo più tranquilli. Avete fatto molto per noi".
"Prima di andare via abbiamo chiuso tutti i progetti" di cooperazione civile-militare, ha sottolineato De Pascale in un breafing. Progetti che hanno riguardato fra le altre cose rete idrica, potenziamento delle linee elettriche, viabilità e distribuzione di materiali.
Del miliardo e mezzo di euro speso dall'Italia per "Antica Babilonia", solo 15 milioni sono stati investiti in progetti Cimic, cioè di cooperazione civile-militare, a cui si sommano i 20 milioni di dollari messi a disposizione dalla Coalizione.
L'Italia has promised to continue helping Iraqis. In this seven Italians are engaged in PRT Nasiriyah, civil-military structure that the center-right government wanted all Italian, and that the current government has instead granted only for civilian personnel not having to leave the military in Iraq. "
What do you think?
It seems that the Italians have made a good impression!
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