Suldati Maltin f'tahrig pacifiku ma' qawwiet Taljani, Francizi, Griegi u Torok

Kontingent ta' 96 suldat tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta - 14-il fizzjal u 82 suldat - illum telqu minn Malta biex jiehdu sehem f'tahrig militari ta' bixra pacifika fl-Ezercizzju CANALE 97 li se jsir fi Sqallija. It-tahrig ihaddan tliet fazijiet: Tfittxija u Salvatagg, Twettiq tal-Ligijiet tal-Bahar kif ukoll ghajnuna Umanitarja u z-Zamma tal-Paci. Din l-ahhar fazi se tkun fuq l-art u jiehu sehem platoon tal-FAM. Din hija l-akbar hidma ta' tahrig barra minn xtutna mmexxija mis-suldati Maltin bil-kollaborazzjoni ta' shabhom barranin.

Is-suldati tal-FAM se jkunu qeghdin jitharrgu ma' suldati Taljani, Francizi, Griegi u Torok waqt li hames pajjizi involuti fil-Konferenza Ewro-Mediterranja se jkunu prezenti bhala osservaturi. Dawn il-pajjizi jinkludu lil Cipru, l-Egittu, il-Gordan, il-Marokk u l-Algerija.

CANALE 97 qed jigi organizzat ghar-raba' sena konsekuttiva mill-FAM u l-Flotta Taljana. Waqt li fit-tliet snin li ghaddew l-ezercizzju CANALE sar fl-ibhra Maltin, din is-sena gie deciz li l-ezercizzju jsir fi Sqallija u fl-ibhra ta' madwar. L-ewwel grupp ta' suldati telqu minn Malta illum fit-tmienja ta' filghodu meta z-zewg Patrol Boats tal-FAM P30 u P32 telqu mill-Iskwadra Marittima ta' Haywharf lejn il-bazi navali Taljana ta' Augusta. Fuq dawn il-Patrol Boats kien hemm ekwipagg ta' suldati mill-Iskwadra Marittima li jinkludu whud li ghandhom tahrig specjali fl-inzul mill-helicopters fuq bastimenti bit-teknika ta' 'Fast Rope'.

It-tieni parti tal-kontingent tal-FAM mistennija jitilqu mill-Ajruport ta' Hal Luqa fuq ajruplan militari Taljan illum wara nofsinhar. Fuq dan l-ajruplan se jkun hemm 5 fizzjali ta' l-Istaff Dirigenti tal-FAM u platoon ta' 30 suldat immexxija minn fizzjal.

F'CANALE 97 se jippartecipaw total ta' 12-il vapur navali u 10 ajruplani, fosthom zewg patrol boats, helicopter u ajruplan tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta.

Fi tmiem il-gimgha 31 ta' Mejju/1 ta' Gunju il-kontingent Malti se jkun fost il-qawwiet partecipanti li jintegraw, jitharrgu u jitghallmu joperaw flimkien. It-tahrig CANALE 97 se jsir nhar it-2 u 3 ta' Gunju u l-ghada 4 ta' Gunju jsir de briefing.

Il-Prim Ministru Dr. Alfred Sant nhar it-Tlieta 3 ta' Gunju se jmur Sqallija sabiex jara s-sehem tas-suldati Maltin f'dan it-tahrig importanti ghall-ghajnuna umanitarja, il-hila tat-tfittxija u s-salvatagg u t-twettiq tal-ligijiet marittimi. L-involviment tal-FAM f'tahrig barra l-pajjiz se tkun prijorita' kontinwa u importanti tal-Gvern Malti.

MALTESE ARMED FORCES IN PEACE KEEPING EXERCISES ALONGSIDE ITALIAN, FRENCH, GREEK AND TURKISH FORCES

A contingent of 96 military personnel from the Armed Forces of Malta - 14 officers and 82 other ranks - left Malta to participate in military exercises of a peacekeeping nature in the Canale 97 Exercise to be held in nearby Sicily. The exercise comprises three phases: search and rescue, the implementation of Maritime laws as well as humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping exercises. This latter phase will take place on land and an AFM platoon will take part. This is the biggest operation to take place abroad and to be conducted by Maltese forces.

The AFM contingent will be training with Italian, French, Greek and Turkish forces while five countries involved in the Euro-Med Conference - Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco - sent observers to the Exercise.

Canale 97 is being organised for the fourth consecutive year by AFM in conjunction with the Italian Navy. Whereas during the past three years the Canale Exercise was carried out in Maltese waters, it was decided this year that the Exercise take place in Sicily and in the surrounding sea. The first part of the contingent departed from Malta this morning at 8.00hrs, when the two AFM Patrol Boats P30 and P32 left the Maritime Squadron at Hay Wharf on its way to the Italian naval base at Augusta. The Patrol Boats carried a crew of military men from the Maritime Squadron including personnel with special training in landing helicopters on vessels with the Fast Rope technique.

The second group of the AFM contingent is expected to leave Luqa Airport on an Italian military plane this afternoon. The plane carries 5 officers from the AFM Directing Staff and an infantry platoon of 30 other ranks led by an officer.

A total of 12 naval vessels and 10 aircraft, including patrol boats, a helicopter and an aeroplane of the AFM are participating. During the weekend of 31 May/1 June the Maltese contingent will be amongst the participating forces in an exercise of integration, training and co-operation. The Canale 97 exercise takes place on 2 and 3 June, while de briefing takes place on 4 June.

Prime Minister Dr. Alfred Sant leaves for Sicily on Tuesday 3 June to observe the Maltese forces' participation during this important exercise in humanitarian assistance, search and rescue capability and the implementation of maritime laws. The AFM's involvement in overseas training will be a continuing priority of the Maltese Government.