Rome, Dec 21 (IANS/AKI) Italy's nascent peacekeeping mission in Africa's Niger will soon be presented to parliament and will "contribute to creating a pillar of security in the Sahel region", Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said on Thursday.
Pinotti was speaking during a videoconference with Italy's 35 peacekeeping missions in 22 countries, which was also attended by President Sergio Mattarella and Chief of Defence Staff Claudio Graziano.
Italy's military missions around the world "have allowed key successes such as the defeat of the Islamic State (jihadist group) in Syria and Iraq," Pinotti said.
Matarella said that soldiers deployed in Italy's 35 peacekeeping missions around the world are "fully upholding the principles and values of the Constitution".
He thanked the soldiers "for what they do and for the quality of the work they carry out, fully upholding the principles and values of the Constitution."
Mattarella also paid tribute to the Safe Streets Operation to which 7,500 soldiers have been deployed to guard sensitive sites in Italy.
He hailed Italy's newly established military mission to Niger, calling it "extremely important" for the security and stability of the Sahel region.
--IANS/AKI
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