The Argentine Naval Prefecture hosted General Andrea De Gennaro, Commander General of the Guardia di Finanza of the Italian Republic, at its headquarters. During the event, a ceremony was held where the National Prefect, Prefect General Guillermo Giménez Pérez, presented the highest representative of the Italian Institution with the Coast Guard Distinction in the "Grand Cross" degree.
Also present at the meeting were the National Sub-Prefect, Prefect General Alejandro Paulo Annichini; the General Director of Security, Prefect General Carlos Villarreal; and the Secretary General and Planning Director, Prefect General Marcelo del Giorgio, along with senior prefects and special guests.
The Italian delegation included the Head of the II Department (Information Coordination and International Relations), Brigadier General Antonio Mancazzo; and the Attaché in Argentina, Colonel Antonio Aiello.
The ceremony began with the national anthems performed by the string quartet of the Prefecture's Symphonic Orchestra. Afterwards, the authorities exchanged gifts. The National Prefect presented a statuette of the 1830 harbor boatman, corresponding to the oldest uniform registered in the Force, while the Italian delegation presented a historical figure of a Guardia di Finanza officer.
After receiving the decoration, General Andrea De Gennaro expressed his gratitude for the distinction and highlighted the significance of the recognition for both institutions: "I express my most sincere and profound gratitude for the granting of the prestigious Coast Guard medal, the highest official recognition of the Argentine Naval Prefecture. I receive this decoration with particular emotion and as a symbol of the friendship and consideration that unites both institutions."
For his part, Prefect General Guillermo José Giménez Pérez emphasized the importance of the ties built between both forces and stated: "It is a true honor to receive today the Commander General of a friendly institution with which we have built a solid relationship of trust and cooperation. Cooperation is not built solely through formal agreements, but through sustained commitment and the willingness to transform those commitments into concrete actions."
It should be noted that the bilateral relationship has been consolidated over the years through the development of joint initiatives and the strengthening of institutional collaboration channels, with special relevance since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on November 25, 2019.
In this context, officials participated in September in the Maritime Organizations Auditor Course, taught in person by the Prefecture. The training promoted the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and contributed to strengthening professional capacities and international cooperation.
The Guardia di Finanza is a police force of a military nature of the Italian Republic, dependent on the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Its main mission is to prevent, investigate, and combat economic, financial, and fiscal crimes, as well as to protect the legality and the economic and financial interests of the State.
