YEREVAN. – Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received Italy’s new Ambassador to Armenia, Giovanni Ricciulli, and new Military Attaché, Major General Giovanni Armentani, whose diplomatic residence is in Moscow. 

Ohanyan congratulated the ambassador and the military attaché on their appointment, and expressed the hope that the Armenian-Italian military cooperation will continue to record new accomplishments in a foreseeable future, the Armenian MOD press service informs.

An Armenian platoon is expected to be dispatched to Lebanon to conduct a peacekeeping mission within the Italian battalion, and as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).  

The Italian party noted that their armed forces are aware of the professional training and track-record of the Armenian peacekeepers, and they expect to begin the joint mission in the near future.  

This mission will give new impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation in several other domains. 

During the meeting the interlocutors also discussed other matters of mutual interest.