The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) donated a number of UN-owned information-technology equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the General Security Directorate/ Sûreté Générale (SG) at a ceremony held on 16 December at its headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon.

The event was attended by UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano, Deputy Head of Mission Imran Riza, Deputy Force Commander Brigadier-General Sandeep Singh Bajaj, Director of Mission Support Wolfgang Weiszegger, LAF South Litany Sector Commander Brigadier-General Charbel Abou Khalil, LAF Intelligence Chief (Southern region) Brigadier-General Khodor Hammoud and Lieutenant-Colonel Fawzi Chamoun, representing General Security on behalf of Major-General Abbas Ibrahim.

1,776 items including computers, printers, servers and accessories valued at over USD 400,000 were handed over with the aim of assisting LAF and SG in their operational needs, as part of UNIFIL's efforts to support the development of LAF capabilities within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue process.

During the ceremony, Major-General Portolano spoke of the importance of the Strategic Dialogue process, which aims to empower the Lebanese Armed Forces in implementing the tasks mandated in UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and to facilitate the gradual assumption of greater security responsibilities by LAF in UNIFIL's area of operations.

He noted that the partnership between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces is central to the implementation of the mandated tasks. "It is essential, in this regard, that our strategic partners in the South get the technical and material resources they require to fulfil their vital responsibilities," Major-General Portolano said.

"The Strategic Dialogue Plan remains an integral part of the overall LAF capability development plan, which is supported by the International Support Group. The continued support and assistance of the international community to the LAF is therefore vitally important," he added.

Major-General Portolano reiterated UNIFIL's commitment to support the Government of Lebanon and its entities, including LAF and General Security, by continuing to assist them in developing operational capabilities for the successful implementation of the UNSC resolution 1701 (2006).

Since the beginning of the Strategic Dialogue process, UNIFIL has donated various resources to LAF including vehicles, prefabricated buildings, generators, sea containers and computer equipment worth more than USD 1 million. This is apart from assistance provided by the UNIFIL Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) on a bilateral basis.

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Video Editor: Suzane Badereddine
Video Camera: Mohamad Hamze, Suzane Badereddine
Photo: Pascual Gorriz Marcos
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