For the first time, Italian President
Sergio Mattarella on Thursday saluted the Amerigo Vespucci, the
Italian Navy's training ship, which has been on a world tour
since July 2023, in his Christmas greetings to the Italian
contingents engaged in international operations.
"It is a great pleasure to feel that I'm on board the Vespucci
again, albeit virtually," he said via video link to the tall
ship, which is currently in Doha.
"I thank you for what you have been doing, demonstrating the
professionalism of our Navy to the world .
"The world tour that is about to end has certainly been exciting
for the students and the crew.
"It has also been exciting for the countries touched by the
arrival of the Vespucci, for Italy and for our fellow citizens
following the tour.
"A message about Italy's great prestige and allure was taken
everywhere".
The president's message was met by emotion, joy and pride aboard
the Amerigo Vespucci and it will go down as another part of the
history of the Navy's training ship.
The ship's bridgehouse acted as the backdrop to the end-of-ear
event, which representatives of "Lo Spirito di Stella" also took
part in.
Lo Spirito di Stella is the first catamaran to be completely
accessible to the disabled and - just like the Vespucci - it is
on the world tour.
Commander Giuseppe Lai delivered a message to the president,
stressing not just the commitment to 'naval diplomacy' but also
to the "promotion of the image, culture and values of Italy
around the world", via Villaggio Italia, the travelling expo
devoted to Italian excellence.
"It's an exciting journey," he said before wishing the president
and the whole of Italy happy holidays.
"Hearing the head of state greeting the crew of the Vespucci
ship stirred strong emotions," Lai said at the end of the video
link.
"It was a message not only for the crew here, but also for the
crew there, that is, our loved ones who await us in Italy.
"A merry Christmas for us and for them."
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