Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
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24.10.2017.

Minister Vulin has given commemorative medals to Italian generals




 
Today, during his stay in Rome, within the framework of his official visit to Italy, Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin conferred military memorial medals to the defence system of the Republic of Serbia, in the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, to three generals of the Italian Armed Forces, who contributed by their engagement to improving understanding and security for the citizens of Kosovo and Metohija.
 
Minister Vulin presented former KFOR Commander Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mauro Del Vecchio and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Bertolini, medals for their contribution during their term in office in KFOR and, on that occasion, he pointed out that he had pleaseure, on behalf of the Serbian people, to have opportunity to thank the people who sincerely loved us.
 
- We could go back to the distant past, we could talk about the relations of our armies, we could also thank you here for the evacuation in the First World War, we could talk about all that, and we will talk about the time that we remember, the time in which we still live. Today we wish to thank you, not to wait for the history to thank you. We should not wait for the history to pass to find out who our friends were in the most difficult moments. The Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija always knew that where the Italian army was, they would have justice, understanding, and protection. You know, the Serbian anthem begins with the words "God of justice", we just asked for justice, we have always had it from your soldiers. And when Kosovo and Metohija was burning in 2004, when the memories of our people, our past, our future, our most important churches and monasteries were brutally burned and demolished, we were sure that where the Italian army is, not any church would be burnt, so Visoki Dečani monastery which is the sanctuary for my people was not burnt thanks to you; they have not been attacked in the past few years, because you did not allow it. Now that you are no longer in command on Kosovo and Metohhija, I can tell you, we have always known that you understood our suffering and our pain, and we have always known that you would help us even beyond your duties.
 
Minister Vulin finally emphasized that he did not thank only as defence minister, nor to them just as soldiers "I thank you as people who showed, in the heaviest moments for my people, that there are still humans. I want you to know that we have always appreciated you and loved you. The Serbs remember both good and evil, we do not forget either. This is our way to thank you for all the good things. Thank you in behalf of my people."