(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 19 - For the first time, Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday saluted the Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian Navy's training ship, which has been on a world tour since July 2023, in his Christmas greetings to the Italian contingents engaged in international operations.
    "It is a great pleasure to feel that I'm on board the Vespucci again, albeit virtually," he said via video link to the tall ship, which is currently in Doha.
    "I thank you for what you have been doing, demonstrating the professionalism of our Navy to the world .
    "The world tour that is about to end has certainly been exciting for the students and the crew.
    "It has also been exciting for the countries touched by the arrival of the Vespucci, for Italy and for our fellow citizens following the tour.
    "A message about Italy's great prestige and allure was taken everywhere".
    The president's message was met by emotion, joy and pride aboard the Amerigo Vespucci and it will go down as another part of the history of the Navy's training ship.
    The ship's bridgehouse acted as the backdrop to the end-of-ear event, which representatives of "Lo Spirito di Stella" also took part in.
    Lo Spirito di Stella is the first catamaran to be completely accessible to the disabled and - just like the Vespucci - it is on the world tour.
    Commander Giuseppe Lai delivered a message to the president, stressing not just the commitment to 'naval diplomacy' but also to the "promotion of the image, culture and values of Italy around the world", via Villaggio Italia, the travelling expo devoted to Italian excellence.
    "It's an exciting journey," he said before wishing the president and the whole of Italy happy holidays.
    "Hearing the head of state greeting the crew of the Vespucci ship stirred strong emotions," Lai said at the end of the video link.
    "It was a message not only for the crew here, but also for the crew there, that is, our loved ones who await us in Italy.
    "A merry Christmas for us and for them." (ANSA).