UNIFIL’s eastern command organized a friendly relay march last week along the 52-kilometre stretch of the Blue Line with participation of UN peacekeepers and Lebanese soldiers as a way to furthering and deepening the ties between them.
 
A total of 19 teams participated in the peace march, the first of its kind, in which each group carrying a UN flag ran for about five kilometres under scorching heat. The last stretch of about three kilometres was run by UNIFIL’s Sector East Commander Brigadier-General Perez de Aguado, commanders of four UNIFIL contingents operating in the south-eastern Lebanon and soldiers from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
 
UNIFIL’s Indian Battalion Commander Colonel Dhirender Singh flagged off the marchers in the so-called UN Position 4-31 in Shab’a. The 25 September march ended in Blida after more than three hours.
 
The 120-kilometre Blue Line or the Line of Withdrawal stretches from the south-western tip of Lebanon in Ras al-Naqoura to the south-eastern tip in Shab’a. The UN identified the Line in June 2000 for the sole purpose of confirming the full withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Lebanese territory. Both the Lebanese and Israeli authorities have reiterated their commitment to respect the Line.  
 
Besides confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, UNIFIL carries out a range of other activities such as monitoring the cessation of hostilities, accompanying and supporting LAF as they deploy throughout southern Lebanon, and monitoring any violation of the Blue Line by either side.
 
Brig-Gen Perez de Aguado said one of the objectives of the march was to show UNIFIL’s commitment to respect the Blue Line and raise awareness against any violation.
 
“The second objective was to interact with all the battalions (operating in Sector East) and LAF… It was a nice moment to share with all my CONTICOs (Contingent Commanders) who share this mission with us in Sector East,” said the Spanish General. “Finally, what we obtained was that comradeship, brotherhood among us has increased and improved."
 
Brig-Gen Perez de Aguado commended LAF for ensuring security and for their participation in the march. The march, he said, was the evidence of UNIFIL working together with LAF in maintaining a secure environment in the UN Mission’s area of operations.
 
“This is the way in which the relay (march) improved our relations with LAF,” he added.

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Article: Tilak Pokharel
Photo: Sector East HQ / UNIFIL
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