ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The President of the Council, Giorgia Meloni, accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, arrived at the Village of Defense, set up at the Circus Maximus of Rome, to lay a bundle of roses in homage to the four soldiers who died yesterday in Bosnia in the tragic incident that involved a helicopter.
In the afternoon of yesterday, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an Italian helicopter, a CH 47, engaged in the operation EUFOR Althea has in fact precipitated around 16 near Brcko for reasons still under investigation. Four soldiers died: two belonging to the Italian Army and two to the Voluntary Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross. This is the Sergeant (EI AVES) Simone Ruggia, of the Sergeant (EI AVES) Claudio Marchesi, of the Lieutenant of the Voluntary Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross (CRI) Franco Adriano Zecchillo and of the Sergeant of the Voluntary Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross (CRI) Laura Procacci. Minister Crosetto reported it.
Aboard the aircraft were 15 people. The eleven wounded are receiving the necessary care and, at the moment, none of them is in danger of life. Defence immediately ordered the sending of an Italian medical team to ensure the injured maximum support and the best possible assistance. The causes of the tragedy are currently under investigation. The investigation activities necessary to reconstruct the dynamics of the accident and to clarify the circumstances of the incident have already begun. The Defense communicated the details of the incident only after having informed the families of the fallen.
VILLAGGIO DIFESA DIVENTA LUOGO DI RACCOGLIMENTO PER VITTIME INCIDENTE IN BOSNIA
The Ministry of Defense makes known that the Village of Defense at the Circus Maximus in Rome, conceived as a meeting space between the armed forces and citizens, in the light of what happened in Bosnia, becomes “a space of recollection, memory and participation, in which the entire national community can ideally hold around our fallen, their families, the wounded and all those who are experiencing these difficult hours. That’s why we canceled the inaugural ceremony for today. The Village will open to the public at 2 pm, but it will not be a party. It will be a place where everyone can manifest, with a simple and sincere gesture, their closeness: bringing a flower, leaving a note, dedicating a prayer or even stopping a few minutes in silence. We would like every citizen passing through the Circus Maximus to feel that place even a little his. Because the armed forces are not a world separated from society: belong to the Italian people and to the Italian people make service”.
“And when four of our military lose their lives while serving Italy, it’s right that the whole country feels the duty to stop, remember and hold on to their families. No word can return what has been lost. No gesture can fill the void left by a broken life. But we can be. We can make families feel that they are not alone, accompany with affection the wounded and their loved ones, witness the gratitude and respect of an entire community. Defense is a great family. Today it is a wounded family, who weeps their children, but who finds in solidarity, closeness and sharing pain the strength to tighten even more. Just a flower, a thought! The easiest and most beautiful way to tell Simone, Claudio, Franco Adriano and Laura that Italy does not forget them”, concludes the note of Defense
LE PAROLE DEL MINISTRO DELLA DIFESA CROSETTO
“We join the pain of the relatives of the Sergeant (EI AVES) Simone Ruggia, of the Sergeant (EI AVES) Claudio Marchesi, of the Lieutenant of the Voluntary Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross (CRI) Franco Adriano Zecchillo and of the Sergeant of the Voluntary Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross (CRI) Laura Procacci who lost their lives serving Italy, Defense and the Army”. So the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, making known the names of the victims of the tragic incident in Bosnia.
“At this moment of immense pain, my thought goes first to the families of our fallen, to whom I express my personal and all Defense. There are no words capable of filling such a great loss. To our soldiers who have lost their lives serving the country is the gratitude of Italy. We are close to the wounded, their families and all those who are experiencing these dramatic hours. Defense is a community and, in the most difficult times, must demonstrate that it is able to be united, present and able to take care of one’s own men and women.” So the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, who together with the entire Defense is deeply moved to the families of the victims, to their loved ones and colleagues, sharing the pain for a loss that affects the entire community of Defense.
“We waited for the dramatic news of the death of their loved ones to be brought to families and wanted to avoid that hundreds of other families lived hours of anguish waiting to know the names of the people involved – adds Crosetto. Our momentary silence has not prevented the news of the disappearance of 4 of our soldiers engaged in the mission Eufor Althea echoed causing the despair of hundreds of people who had their loved ones engaged in Bosnia. For hours I follow, with the Staff Defense that of the Army and the Operational Command Interforze, the 11 wounded and currently hospitalized at the hospitals of Brcko and Tuzla, where we sent Italian medical personnel to monitor our boys closely. Tomorrow morning, with the Chief of Staff of Defense we will reach our wounded and other military in Bosnia, with other Italian military doctors specialists. To those who until today served and now needs will go all our help possible”
“The anguish and suffering for this tragic event will change what we had foreseen for the Feast of the Armed Forces of 4 November. Starting from the Defense Village that tomorrow will not be inaugurated and that will no longer become the scene of a feast of thanks for the Armed Forces but the place where to manifest, with a prayer, a flower, a ticket or the presence, the proximity to the fallen, Simone, Claudio, Franco and Laura, to their families and the Armed Forces”, the minister concludes.
IL CORDOGLIO DELLE ISTITUZIONI
“I learned with deep emotion the news of the death of the military occurred in the tragic helicopter accident in the Bosnian operating theatre under Operation Althea. In this sad circumstance, I want to be an interpreter to the Italian Army and the Military Corps of the Red Cross of my feelings of mourning and moving solidarity with the pain caused by this tragic event, asking them to express to the families of the victims my closeness and solidarity”. Thus the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in a message sent to the Chief of Staff of Defense, Luciano Portolano.
“The news of the tragic accident that involved an Italian helicopter of Eufor in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a reason for profound pain. My thoughts go to the victims, to their families and to all those who, engaged in the mission for peace and stability of the region, are experiencing hours of distress. To them goes my sincere closeness and that of the Italian Government”. So on social media premier Giorgia Meloni.
“Fully distressed, I am close to our armed forces for the tragedy in Bosnia. A thought to the family of the victims. A terrible disgrace that shakes the heart of all Italians. The Ambassador of Italy to Sarajevo is already going to Brcko, the site of the accident. The Foreign Ministry will provide all necessary support. A prayer for our fallen and our wounded in fulfilling duty.” So the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of human lives in a helicopter crash near Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. My thoughts go to the victims, to their families and to all those who have been affected. Eufor’s staff work daily to support peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, their work remains vital. I expressed my most felt condolences to Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto. Europe is fully supportive with Italy at this difficult time. We remain in close contact with the commander of Eufor and our EU representatives on the field.” So Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
– Photo Vladimir Matijević/ Fena Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
