New accord between Malta and Italian Military Mission

A new memorandum of understanding providing for the presence of the Italian Military Mission in Malta would give a new meaning as to how the forces of the two countries would operate together, the head of the Italian unit said.

Speaking on the occasion of the Italian Armed Forces Day earlier this month, Colonel Rocco Vastola, commanding officer of the Italian Military Mission Malta, said cooperation under the new MoU would confirm the great progress Malta achieved in the recent past.

He said the signing of a new MoU called for the rebalancing of joint efforts within an international context characterised by global recession, terrorism and, for the Mediterranean, massive migration from African countries.

“Therefore, all our efforts shall be directed towards the rationalisation of resources, aiming at carrying out a limited number of projects. Ambitious projects but absolutely necessary for the common good,” Col Vastola said.

Cooperation between the two countries in the defence field began on August 1, 1973 on the request of the Maltese government.

The Italian Military Mission was tasked to train the Pioneer Corps to carry out public utility works, improve the telephone network and maintain the vehicles of the Maltese government.

In March 1979, the Maltese government asked the Italian personnel to leave but the mission was back in 1981 when it offered training to the Task Force, the Armed Forces of Malta and the police.

The activities of the Italian mission were again suspended between December 1984 and September 1985 but the Italian search and rescue service kept running.

A new MoU was signed on July 14, 1988. This is now about to expire and will be substituted by the new accord Col Vastola spoke about.