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Middle East – Africa - page 31

Lebanon, Alpina T. Brigade: cardiac screening for students

Defence/Middle East - Africa di

The activities performed by Italian Army in favor of local people carry on in South Lebanon.

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The staff of the Alpina Taurinense Brigade followed up the activities of medical cardiological screening in synergy with the civil-military cooperation cell (CIMIC), composed of specialists who belong to the Multinational CIMIC Group of Motta di Livenza, and of medical units of “level 1” based in Shama, headquarter of the western sector of UNIFIL, under Italian command.

Students of institutes and schools located in Sothern Lebanon have benefited of medical monitoring, started from the 130 students of Alma Ash Shaab high school. Specifically, about 20 visits were carried out with its track by electrocardiogram and measurement of oxygen saturation, history and physical examination of the carotid pulses. These initiatives are contextualized within the support and assistance activities in favour of local population and institutions promoted by the multinational mission UNIFIL, in execution of Resolution 1701 of the Security Council of the United Nations.

The cardiac screening for children was inaugurated at the ned of last September by the Italian CIMIC staff in the educational center for disabled people of Ayta Ash Shaab, a southern Lebanon village, which houses 123 children aged between 2 and 25 years. Humanitarian interventions carried out by Italian contingent based on site are particularly appreciated by local people, who live in conditions of poverty and instability as a result of repeated conflicts with Israel and because of the near Syrian crisis.

Father Maroun Ghafari, director of the first institute monitored by medical units, expressed heartfelt gratitude to our soldiers for their continued support and attention devoted to his students.
Viviana Passalacqua

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UNIFIL Lebanon: artificers’ workshop

Middle East - Africa di

The workshop for UN EOD teams (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) occurs today in the Lebanese military base of the municipality of Dibil. It has been organized by the Finnish-Irish Battalion, employed by UNIFIL Sector West.

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The activity is aimed to increase the interoperability of peacekeepers involved in EOD, a delicate operation to be carried out in a few minutes in case of discovery of bombs or of finding of the infamous IEDs, handcrafted improvised explosive devices, which deactivation is extremely complex. In addition to fulfilling their specific task, the bomb squad of UNIFIL assist the Lebanese Army team with skills and sophisticated materials.

The teams of 8 different nations participate in the international comparison: Italy, Ireland, Finland, China, Malaysia, Spain, Estonia and Cambodia. The occasion allowed the militaries to compare equipment and materials and to allow an exchange of information which is essential for the profession of artifice, continuously updated.

The know-how sharing and the consolidation of a collaborative spirit are fundamental prerogatives of the Lebanon peacekeeping mission. The Italian contingent is made up of specialized units of the Taurinense Brigade – part of to the 32° Engineers Regiment of Turin – who lead the Sector West in the south of the country. These same soldiers ensure the operations on ordnance in Italy: about 150 bombs were found in the regions of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta.
Viviana Passalacqua

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Bashar Al Assad flies to Moscow

Middle East - Africa di

For the first time since the outbreak of the crisis, Syrian President Bashar Assad has left the capital for a corporate trip to Moscow.

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An Unexpected Journey, the Kremlin said in a press release, but suggests a renewed confidence in his government by the Syrian president.

In Moscow Bashar Al Assad met with Vladimir Putin, with whom he discussed the results of the current joint military actions and future initiatives to reach a political solution to the internal conflict in Syria. This his first international public from the beginning of the conflict in 2011 following the Arab Spring of Damascus shows how the changed situation on the ground thanks to Russian, so as not to cause fear a temporary removal from the capital.

The same destination of this presidential trip is emblematic, a kind of recognition of the importance of the Russian intervention as stated on the same Bashar Al Assad, “the terrorism that is spreading through the region now would make even greater losses without it. ”

Iran is also a great supporter of the Assad regime but the choice of Russia as the first visit of the Syrian leader can be interpreted as a sign of the need for the government to Assad to secure recognition of reward legitimacy by a major international player with a seat on the UN Security Council. Many international reactions to the meeting in Moscow was a sign of how Russian intervention is considerable in this quadrant.

Shortly after the visit, Putin has received phone calls from Turkey and Saudi Arabia leaders. Prime Minister turkish Ahmet Davutoglu said that after this meeting could start a political negotiation with Assad while Putin himself has informed the Saudi king Salman on the results of the meeting. Instead, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov received a phone call from US Secretary of State John Kerry after the visit.

A further consequence of the talks in Moscow is the convening on 22 October a series of talks on the Syrian crisis between the top diplomats of Russia, the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Vienna although a great skepticism emerges as to finding a agreement for a transition plan in Syria. There are many factors that complicate the search for a political solution of the conflict, not least that of the deep Syrian divisions.

The question of how will Syria after the transition from the leadership of al-Assad will be crucial to the multilateral talks in Vienna. Many of the rebels have refused to accept a deal that allows the government to Assad to continue its work of government in any form. The United States and Turkey, among others, are not happy at the prospect that al-Assad will have a say in any political negotiations.

 

Alessandro Conte

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Lebanon, UNIFIL: handover between the two Brigades Friuli Aircraft Brigade and Alpine Taurinense

BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

Changing the guard at the Shama Millevoi military base, in southern Lebanon, where the Alpine Taurinense Brigade took over the leadership of the Western Sector of UNIFIL, succeeding the Friuli Aircraft Brigade. The newly formed command count on the support of French units, in the context of a strengthened synergy between Italy and France. The mission, which is coordinated by Italy from 2007 and participated by 13 nations, undertake the effort of 3.000 peacekeepers.

UNIFIL is essential for the security and socio-economic stability of the country, and earn great favor among local community. The ceremony of succession between the General Salvatore Cuoci, and the incoming General Franco Federici, was attended by the Commander of the Operational Interforce Command (COI), the Army General Corps Marco Bertolini, who contributed to the consolidation of relationships between UNIFIL and Lebanese people, and the UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Luciano Portolano, who on july 2014 assumed command as Force Commander and Head of UNIFIL, but not only. Present at the event, the political and religious authorities, military personnel, as well as delegations of different nationalities present in UNIFIL.

During the ceremony of ritual greetings, the mayors of Tyre and Tibnin, two municipalities of the Western Sector, expressed their thanks to the Italian military delivering to General Cuoci the keys of respective cities, a symbolic gesture as a sign of gratitude for the work done and a confirm of the trust patiently conquered. During the previous six months of operations, our soldiers have carried out numerous projects in favor of the local population, such as the construction and maintenance of roads, schools, lighting installations. Also the initiatives against poverty are very important, both in terms of supply of food and development of business activities, both in terms of attention to education, gender diversity and social cohesion.

These include the recent construction of a soccer field in the province of Tyre to Qana. Training activities addressed to militias and local institutions remain priorities: the international seminar “Analysis of operational capacity, human resources and capacity of responses in case of natural disaster and humanitarian crisis”, organized by the Italian contingent of the UNIFIL ITALBATT task Force, has just ended in Al Mansouri. It has been attended by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and other civil defense organizations. The training workshops aimed to educate local forces in managing humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.

Viviana Passalacqua

Libya: yes to national unity government

BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

Bernardino Leon has announced Libya national unity government. The agreement, reached in the late evening of Thursday 8 October in Morocco, has been signed by all factions, including Tripoli, which has approved draft endorsed by other parties last September. The UN envoy has also named Prime Minister Fayez Serray, former member of Tripoli parliament.

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“More work remains. Negotiators who attended the peace talks representing the rival governments approved the names of candidates, but the parliaments for both sides must approve them, too. The U.N. says an estimated 2.44 million people in Libya are in need of protection and some form of humanitarian aid, “ Leon said.

After about a year of difficult talks, Leon, at the end of his assignment in Libya, has also aexplained that Tobruk and Tripoli will have to choose the future Cabinet. While the United Nations has already named three vice presidents who will compose, together with Prime Minister, the presidential council.

Moussa Kony, independent and coming from Fezzan. Maemq Ahmed, a member of the General National Congress of Tripoli. Fatj Majbari, coming from Cyrenaica but not belonging to General Haftar army.

The international community has welcomed this deal. Now, after new government composition, a military intervention, under the aegis of the United Nations and maybe led by Italy, could be begin against Daesh: We now expect the Libyan parties to endorse this deal which meets the aspirations of the Libyan people, to take the path of peace and prLiosperity. The European Union stands ready to offer immediate substantial political and financial support – worth 100million euros – to the new government, “ the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini remarked.

While Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has pushed Tobruk and Tripoli “not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a state that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution”.

As Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Paolo Gentiloni, who expressed “satisfaction with the results achieved over night by the Libyan delegations. This is an important step toward the much hoped for establishment of a national unity government. It is now essential that all the parties concerned approve the agreement and proceed to signing it”, the minister said. “In acknowledgement of the unceasing efforts of UN envoy Bernardino Leon – the minister concluded – Italy will continue to lend its support to the next stages in attaining peace and stability in Libya”.

Giacomo Pratali

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Syria: the necessary deal between the US and Russia

Middle East - Africa/Policy di

After Russian bombings in Syria, the violation of Turkish airspace and the support of Assad, relationship between the Washington and Moscow have become even colder. However, a cooperation agreement against Islamic State is possible.

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Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation could accept the Pentagon proposal on coordination in the fight against ISIS in Syria. This is what the Kremlin leaked Wednesday 7th October, speaking of ongoing diplomatic relathioship with the White House after the US-Russia summit at the United Nations on 29th September.

Since last 30th September, when Russia began to bomb Syria, it started a double escalation. From military point of view, with Russian fighters brought to Palmira, in the provinces of Aleppo and Hama, where they helped regular army against Islamist insurgents, but not belonging to Daesh. Russian support of Assad, challenged by the United States and NATO, and the violation of Turkish airspace caused the diplomatic escalation.

Indeed, there were several give and take between the West, which accuses Russia to hit Syrian not fundamentalists rebels and play jihadists game, and the Kremlin, which has branded these accusations as hoaxes.

“We reject the Russian assertion that all armed opponents of the “brutal” Mr Assad were terrorists, ” president of the US Barack Obama boomed out While minister of Defence Michael Fallon stated that only 5% of Russians raid hit the Caliphate: “Our evidence indicates they are dropping unguided munitions in civilian areas, killing civilians, and they are dropping them against the Free Syrian forces fighting Assad. Percentage of victims proved by The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) .

“The only true way to combat international terrorism, in Syria and in the territories of neighboring countries where international terrorism is rampant, is to act preemptively by fighting and killing terrorists which have captured territories,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said. While Minister of Foriegn Affairs Sergey Lavrov explained that “we have the same approach: it’s ISIL, Al-Nusra and other terrorist groups. We believe that the Free Syrian Army should be part of the political process, like some other armed groups on the ground.”

But this tension on the diplomatic level is also involving Turkey. The violation of Turkish airspace, caused by “bad weather” according to Russian reason, opened a diplomatic incident with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, historically enemy of Assad and accused to taking in Syria many foreign fighters enlisted by the Caliphate.

The Kremlin explanations were rejected by Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The statement published by Member States of the Atlantic Alliance last 5th October called on Russia “to end air strikes on the Syrian opposition and civilians” and commented on violation of Turkish airspace as “the extreme danger of such irresponsible behaviour”.

However, this argument could be mitigated by a possible cooperation agreement between Washington and Moscow. Moreover, not only Russia, but also the West decided to intervene in Syria. The United States (and maybe Italy) are reconquering Iraqi city defeated by Islamic State. France, Australia and Great Britain (pending the ratification of the Parliament) are sending their fighters to Syria.

Russian annoying attitude against the United States and NATO probably concealed one purpose: to involve the Western partners in the war against Islamic State. This goal could be reached in the coming days.
Giacomo Pratali

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Kunduz, MSF hospital airstrike: excuses and charges

BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

19 dead and about 30 wounded and missing after the wrong air raid conducted yesterday by the US coalition against hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, where MSF had its headquarters. The attack follows other United States special actions on this city, during the last week, wherein they killed 200 Mansour’s Taliban. Jihadists run away from city center, but now still control some suburban areas.

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Doctors Without Borders, of which 12 workers were killed, denied that Talibans were in the hospital: “All parties to the conflict, including in Kabul and Washington, were clearly informed of the precise location (GPS Coordinates) of the MSF facilities – hospital, guesthouse, office and an outreach stabilization unit in Chardara (to the north-west of Kunduz). As MSF does in all conflict contexts, these precise locations were communicated to all parties on multiple occasions over the past months, including most recently on 29 September. The bombing continued for more than 30 minutes after American and Afghan military officials in Kabul and Washington were first informed. MSF urgently seeks clarity on exactly what took place and how this terrible event could have happened. “ NGO’s statement said.

President of United States Barack Obama offered MSF his deepest condolences and explained that “the Department of Defense has launched a full investigation, and we will await the results of that inquiry before making a definitive judgement as to the circumstances of this tragedy.”

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident involving a Doctors without Borders hospital in Kunduz – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said -. I extend my condolences to all those affected. Doctors without Borders perform extraordinary humanitarian work across the world, including in Afghanistan. They play an important role in helping create the conditions for a better future for the Afghan people. “

While the UN is determined to open an investigation, the NGO was forced to move to other city medical centers. However, the investigations announced by United States and United Nations are not enough sufficient: “This attack is abhorrent and a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law,” said Meinie Nicolai, MSF President. “We demand total transparency from Coalition forces. We cannot accept that this horrific loss of life will simply be dismissed as ‘collateral damage’.”

If Russian military intervention in Syria and support for President Assad have not been approved by Washington, the human error, which caused several victims among patients and MSF doctors, embarasses the US in front of the international community, especially after Yemen where, a few months ago, bombs against Sunni refugee camps came from United States equipment.
Giacomo Pratali

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Italy’s ENI on fields of gas

BreakingNews @en/Energy/Europe/Middle East - Africa di

The Italian energy company Eni SpA announced Sunday it has discovered a “supergiant” natural gas field off Egypt, describing it as the largest-ever found in the Mediterranean Sea. “Zohr is the largest gas discovery ever made in Egypt and in the Mediterranean Sea and could become one of the world’s largest natural gas finds,” Eni said in a statement. “The discovery, after its full development, will be able to ensure satisfying Egypt’s natural gas demand for decades.”

“Eni will immediately appraise the field with the aim of accelerating a fast-track development of the discovery,” the energy company said.

The discovery of potentially the world’s largest natural-gas field off the Egyptian coast will be an enormous alternative for Egypt and the Mediterranean in terms of energy stability. “It is close to the facilities so the time to market will be very good…that is part of our strategy to…continue to do our exploration in the mature area where we have a deep geographical knowledge and we can take advantage of our facilities and that will make the unit cost in terms of capital very positive” the CEO said.

State-backed Eni has market capitalization of around 54 billion euros and is the biggest foreign producer in Africa. It has operated in Egypt for more than 60 years through its Egyptian subsidiary IEOC and is one of the main energy producers in the country, with a daily output of 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent.

“The Egyptian government is very happy with this find,” ministry spokesman Hamdi Abdelaziz stated, adding that the gas would be extracted for domestic consumption only. “We hope to become self-sufficient by 2020,” he added. The egyptian government cannot yet place a monetary value on the discovery, he said.

In June, Italy’s ENI signed an energy exploration deal with Egypt’s oil ministry  following an memorandum of understanding signed in March during an investment conference, allowing the Italian major to explore in Sinai, the Gulf of Suez, the Mediterranean and areas in the Nile Delta.

ENI’s influence in diplomatic exchanges has always been of great relevance and the weight of this ultimate discovery will grow the italian presence in the area for sure.

 

MIBIL, Italian soldiers began the second training for Lebanese Armed Forces

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Italian soldiers have just started in southern Lebanon the new phase of training and consultancy for the local Armed Forces, who need support to face the safety and security emergency triggered by Syrian conflict. Based on the excellent results obtained by the National Training Center since March 2015, starts now the second round of training in techniques of crowd management and riot control organized by the Italian Police Training Centre of the 2nd Mobile Brigade and by the 7th Trentino Alto Adige Regiment. This course is included in the activities of the Bilateral Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL), launched on 28 January as part of the International “Support Group for Lebanon”, created to attract the international community’s commitment in the stability of the country, threatened by serious social and economic problems. During four weeks italian instructors will coach the staff of local militias who have already attended the first course of civil and military cooperation, chemical and bacteriological detecting, radiological and nuclear detecting, counter-sniper tactics, Force Protection (how to protect a military base, operational functions planning, interventions and risk assessment), operational communication, consolidation of facilities and medical first aid on the battlefield. New lessons’ focus concerns the fundamental principles of humanitarian law and crowd psychology theory, and also the use of the military equipment provided by the Italian Police General Command (shields, personal protection, tonfa, gas masks). A final test will determine whether or not Lebanese soldiers are able to transfer to other military the necessary know-how to manage public disorder, and to teach rules for organized and coordinated team working. In coming months the training cycle will be enriched by new courses, expressly requested by the Lebanese Military Authority, including fighting in the mountain environment, demolition of explosive, surveillance of the battlefield and targets acquisition, as well as specific analyzes of subject matters covered during the first part of the year.

Viviana Passalacqua

“Military training” in Kurdistan against Isil

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In late August ended the first phase of the sixth round training for a Peshmerga battalion, organized by the multinational Command Kurdish Training Coordination Center (KTCC) – composed of Italian, English, German, Dutch , Norwegian, Finnish and Hungarian military instructors – which is currently commanded by Italy. Those training activities are included in the “Prima Parthica” military operation, a response to the request for help presented by the Iraqi Permanent ONU Representative to the President of the Security Council.

The mission is intended to obstruct the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s threat, by supporting the security forces of regional partners. The tasks of Italian contingent concern, first of all, the training of Iraqui and Kurdish security forces, as well as the territory reconnaissance and surveillance, but also synergies with the Chief of the Coalition staff. During the training cycle, Italian soldiers handend down to 300 servicepersons of Kurdish unit the necessary skills to conduct tactical activities in different environments, to implement strategies of attack and defense in particular contexts, such as towns. But not only.

The know-how transferred to the local militia includes individual instruction for combat, research and clearance of IED (improvised explosive devices) and the establishment of a task force able to supervise emergency situations. Kurdish have learned and perfected the moving techniques in a variety of locations, and how to install of adequate facilities for telecommunications to guarantee instantaneous contacts. Finally, special attention to the planning of efficient combat operations as soon as possible and to the use of precision instruments.

This mission in Erbil is very important. Italy plays in the synergy with other countries of the Coalition to strengthen cooperation relations with Kurdistan, which is now fighting to defend its borders against jihadists attacks. Starting from last January, about 1.500 soldiers of local security forces have taken advantage of Italian support. The training phase ended with the verification of the operational capabilities through military exercises, and with the diplomas delivery ceremony. Kurdish authorities were satisfied with the training of the Peshmerga unit.

Viviana Passalacqua

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