A ceremony was held at the **Campo Villaggio Italia**, in **Pejë/Peć**, in remembrance of the Italian soldiers who fell during the clashes of the **Checkpoint “Pasta” in Mogadishu** on July 2, 1993.
The event, promoted by the **Italian contingent of the Regional Command West of the KFOR mission**, combined memory and testimony, reaffirming the value of those men’s sacrifice as the foundations of the Italian and European commitment for peace.
#### A Monument to Remember
The core of the ceremony was the **inauguration of a commemorative monument**, a tangible symbol of the link between the past and present, between the harsh and tragic experience of Somalia and the current stabilization mission in Kosovo under NATO’s aegis.
Honoring the fallen soldiers were high-ranking Italian civil and military leaders: the **Commander of the KFOR mission, Division General Enrico Barduani**, the **Undersecretary of State for Defense, Hon. Isabella Rauti**, and the **Commander of the COVI (High Joint Operational Command), Corps General Giovanni Maria Iannucci**.
Also in attendance was a direct witness to those dramatic events: **Lieutenant Colonel Gianfranco Paglia**, Gold Medal of Military Valor, wounded in combat during the Somali attack. His presence added a unique emotional and symbolic charge to the ceremony, representing the courage and resilience of the Italian Armed Forces in crisis scenarios.
#### Remember to Serve
During the speeches, it was emphasized how the **sacrifice in Mogadishu belongs not only to the military memory**, but is an ethical beacon guiding the daily commitment of Italian peacekeepers in international missions. The reminder of the values of solidarity, responsibility, and service were the underlying message of a commemoration that aimed to **transform pain into dedication and memory into collective responsibility**.
#### KFOR: The Continuity of a Peace Mission
The ceremony was part of the NATO **KFOR (Kosovo Force) mission**, active since 1999 under the **Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council**. KFOR, currently led by Gen. Barduani, continues to ensure a secure and stable environment for all communities living in Kosovo, ensuring **freedom of movement** and acting in a **fair and coordinated** fashion with local authorities, the **Kosovo Police**, and the European mission **EULEX**.
In this context, the tribute to the fallen at the Pasta Checkpoint acquires an even deeper meaning: **an ideal bridge between the missions of the past and those of the present**, between the blood shed to protect civilians in Mogadishu and the constant commitment to Balkan stability.
