UNIFIL Head of Mission reviews Blue Line marking near Kafer Kela

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano with LAF’s Brigadier-General Anton Mourad and Brigadier-General Hassan Bacharoouch at Blue Line marking in the vicinity of Kafar kela.

UNIFIL and LAF personnel verifying points on the Blue Line in Kafar Kela

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano with LAF’s Brigadier-General Anton Mourad and Brigadier-General Hassan Bacharoouch at Blue Line marking in the vicinity of Kafar kela.

previous next
16 Dec 2015

UNIFIL Head of Mission reviews Blue Line marking near Kafer Kela

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano today reviewed the ongoing work for visible marking of the Blue Line (Line of Withdrawal) in the area of Kafer Kela in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) personnel, accompanied by UNIFIL, carried out measurements at four new points on the Blue Line where UNIFIL engineers will now be installing blue barrel markers. In addition, LAF GIS experts verified the positioning of three blue barrels previously placed in the same general area.

During his visit to the location, the UNIFIL Head of Mission underlined the importance of the ongoing process and expressed appreciation for the continued commitment of the parties to work with UNIFIL in this endeavour.

Major-General Portolano said: "It makes me very happy to be here today and to see the commitment of this group of experts from LAF and UNIFIL working together to take forward this complex and painstaking process. Yesterday, UNIFIL facilitated similar Blue Line measurements by the IDF in the area. It is thanks to this positive engagement of both the parties that UNIFIL has been able to make progress and I am encouraged by the same commitment reflected on the ground."

He added: "The visible marking of the Blue Line is an important element of the cessation of hostilities and the related obligations that both the parties have taken upon themselves under UN Security Council resolution 1701. It is a critical confidence building measure which has been preventing frictions and misunderstandings as well as assisting the Mission in observing and reporting violations. It directly contributes to the security of the people living in the area by preventing inadvertent crossing of the Blue Line by local farmers and shepherds."

The Line of Withdrawal, or the Blue line as it is more commonly known, was established by the United Nations in the year 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. At a tripartite meeting in 2007, both parties agreed to visibly mark the Blue Line on the ground.

As of today, UNIFIL in coordination with the parties has verified 227 points, measured 258 and constructed 237 Blue Barrels on the Blue Line.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Video Editor: Aoibheann O'Sullivan
Video Camera: Mohamad Hamze
Photo: Pascual Gorriz Marcos
----------------------------------------------------------------