16 July, 2015 – Two months after signing the agreement that allowed its construction, the Bailey bridge donated by the Italian Army and built next to the monastery “Visoki Decani”, was inaugurated by General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, commander of the NATO forces in Kosovo, and by the Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Andreas Ferrarese. “The construction of the bridge – reads a statement – was strongly supported by General Figliuolo, to allow KFOR patrols that protect the monastery to cross the river safely, reducing intervention time. The Orthodox monastery of Visoki Decani is the only place in Kosovo where KFOR is still the primary responsible for security. The bridge has a total length of 24 meters and its opening will facilitate the use and economic development of the natural area adjacent to the monastery.” In the opening speech, General Figliuolo reiterated that “the construction of the bridge testifies to the close relationship between Italy, the Italian Army and the Monastery of Decan / Decani, but also to the crucial role of the KFOR in the normalization of relations between religious communities, Serbian and Decan / Decani, mostly of Albanian ethnicity.” On the sidelines of the ceremony, the KFOR Commander met with journalists and recalled that “normalized relations and economic development are key factors for social stability, that help prevent the emergence of any kind of extremism.” At the opening ceremony, in addition to the KFOR commander and the Ambassador, there were also Farid Zarif – head of the UN mission in Kosovo, which funded some ancillary work, Haki Demolli – the Minister of Kosovo Security Forces, who built the bridge under the guidance of a specialized team of Rome’s 6th Engineers Pioneers Regiment, and representatives from the municipality and the Decan / Decani monastery. General Figliuolo also presided over a ceremony in memory of Mavm Major Stefano Rugge, who passed on 8 May 2002 after the explosion of a landmine during Operation Amber Fox in FYROM. After Major Rugge was named a stone fountain built in Casa Italia. (Red)
The Italian army provides a Bailey bridge to the “Visoki Decani” monastery
