(ANSA) - UDINE - ''Multinationality is an added value to the Multinational Land Force (MLF), which could be extended in the future, by involving other countries in addition to the current members, which are Italy, Slovenia and Hungary''. This is what the commander of the Alpine Brigade 'Julia' and MLF, gen.

Ignazio Gamba, said speaking to ANSA. He also reported that ''something we have been working on for a long time is being able to operate, in the future, with MLF also under the auspices of the UN mission, such as UNIFIL in Lebanon. '' Gamba outlined the multinational scenario a few days before the beginning of 'Clever Ferret 2014', square-bashing within the MLF that from June 23 to July 5 will involve 1,300 Italian, Slovenian and Hungarian soldiers, deployed throughout the Slovenian territory. Founded in 1998, and given its characteristics, the MLF has often been deployed in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

''Our goal - adds Gamba - is to create a mixed body of troops, stable, quickly deployable and open to other countries''.

Another project which is now taking shape, the Commander of the 'Julia' has recalled, is the one which sees Italy, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary engaged in the Defence Cooperation Initiative (Deci), according to which the MLF could be called upon to make a Battle Group available under auspices of the EU by 2017. (ANSA).