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DEFENCE: ITALY AND MALTE AIR-NAVY DRILL IN SICILY
(AGI) - Palermo, Italy, June 13 - For the 12th year running, the joint Italian-Maltese military drill 'Canale 05' is taking place in the Augusta bay, near Siracusa. The goal is to increase cooperation between the two countries' Air Forces and Navies, as well as those of other countries involved in the so-called '5+5 Initiative' of the EuroMediterranean process, and to increase the operational capacities of air and naval units in peace support operations, such as search and rescue at sea, control and inspection of merchant ships, monitoring and prevention of illegal immigration, evacuation of non-fighting personnel. This year, the drill is hosted and coordinated by Italy: the countries involved in the actual drill are Algeria, France, Greece, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey, while Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Mauretania, Palestine and Syria have been invited as viewers. France, Greece, Morocco and Spain have sent air and naval units; Mauretania, Portugal and Tunisia have sent official observers. The Italian Navy participates with the destroyer 'Mimbelli', the long-range patrol unit Cigala Fulgosi, carrying an AB-212 helicopter, a tugboat (Polifemo class), two SH-3D helicopters, a bomb-squad and an inspection team of the San Marco regiment. The Italian Air Force participates with two search and rescue helicopters HH-3F and AB212. The Coast Guard is involved with a long-range patrol unit class 18, a patrol unit class 200, and a Piaggio P166 DL3 Sem patrol aircraft. The Carabinieri are present with a long-range patrol unit class Melita, and two patrol units (class Protector and Bremse), a BN2B patrol aircraft and a search and rescue helicopter ALIII Alouette, a bomb squad and an inspection unit. (AGI) -