The COVI Commander in Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Operational Commander of the Joint Forces Command (COVI), Army Corps General Giovanni Maria Iannucci, already known as Aquila 1, carried out a series of activities in Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of a visit program aimed at consolidating international dialogue and cooperation and updating on the status of ongoing missions in the countries involved.

Doha: DIMDEX and meetings with national personnel

On January 19, in Doha, General Iannucci participated in the DIMDEX – Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference, attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition in the presence of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. On the sidelines of the event, he met with representatives of the main Italian defense companies present at the exhibition.

During the continuation of the visit, at the Italian Embassy in Doha, the COVI Commander met with H.E. the Italian Ambassador Paolo Toschi and the national personnel employed at the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Al Udeid, who provided an operational update on ongoing activities, with particular reference to the contribution to countering Daesh and maintaining regional stability.

Sarajevo: updates on EUFOR ALTHEA and political-institutional context

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, on January 20, the COVI Commander met with Army Corps General Ludovcic Pinon de Quincy, Operational Commander of the EUFOR ALTHEA mission, with whom he discussed the current security situation in the Balkan area.

During the visit, General Iannucci also met with H.E. the Italian Ambassador in Sarajevo, Sarah Eti Castellani, for an update on the political-institutional context of the country and the Italian contribution within the framework of ongoing international initiatives. The COVI Commander then received an operational update from the Deputy Commander and the Italian National Contingent Commander, Brigadier General Umberto Incisa di Camerana, and met with the personnel of the National Support Element, confirming the effectiveness of the Italian contribution to international operations.

Change of command at EUFOR ALTHEA

Finally, on January 21, the COVI Commander participated in the change of command ceremony of the EUFOR ALTHEA mission, which saw the handover between Major General Florin-Marian Barbu and Major General Maurizio Fronda.