site.btaRotation of Italian Contingent of Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria Takes Place at Novo Selo Training Ground

The Italian contingent of NATO’s Multinational Battlegroup in Bulgaria was rotated in a solemn ceremony at the Novo Selo training area, the press centre of the Defence Ministry reported on Thursday. The previous commander of the battlegroup, Colonel Michelangelo Genchi, handed over command to Colonel Mariano Scandurra.  

Commander of the Multinational Division Southeast in Romania Major General Dorin Toma expressed his personal gratitude to Bulgaria for its daily and continuous efforts as a host country to support the Alliance's Battle Group. He underscored the high professionalism and responsible performance of the tasks by the troops of the Multinational Battle Group and the successfully conducted exercises and trainings.  

"The Bulgarian servicemen are very well prepared and interoperability is easily achievable," said the Commander of the Joint Forces Command, Major General Krasimir Kanev. He noted that the presence of the Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria is undoubtedly useful for the training and maintenance of capabilities, for increasing the interaction between Bulgarian formations and those of its allies.   "The Italian servicepersons who are here are contributing their resources, time and training so that we have guarantees for the security of NATO's eastern flank," Major General Kanev said. 

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Mihail Popov, Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria Giuseppina Zarra, Rear Admiral Valter Zappellini, Chief of Staff Italian Joint Operations Headquarters,  Deputy Chief of Staff Multinational Corps Southeast in Romania, Brigadier General Ivan Ivanov, senior officers of the Land Forces of Bulgaria and Italy and representatives of the Association of Military Attachés accredited in Bulgaria.