„Rapid Trident 2013” Kicks Off

CHISINAU, July 8, 2013 — About 1300 servicemembers from 19 states, including Republic of Moldova, attended today the official opening ceremony of the multinational peacekeeping exercise “Rapid Trident 2013”, held at Iavorov training ground, Lviv, Ukraine.

At the beginning of the event, the deputy director of the exercise, Col. Alfred Renzi, revealed the importance of the event as part of the Partnership for Peace Program. “I am sure that the peacekeeping experience of servicemembers of 19 participating states is of great value. We are here to learn from each other, exchange experience and make friendship”, Col. Alfred Renzi.

Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Veaceslav Nazarkin, wished the participants success and specified that the joint training within “Rapid Trident 2013” makes the militaries interoperable in an international peacekeeping operation.

According to the Commander of the National Army contingent at the exercise, Maj. Sergiu Cirimpei, Moldovan servicemembers of the 22^nd peacekeeping battalion and the Special Forces battalion will execute command and control operations, convoy escort and patrol missions.

Paratroopers of Special Forces Battalion “Fulger” will carry out research missions to support conventional forces and other actions.

The National Army of the Republic of Moldova deployed more than 60 servicemembers to this exercise.