In an end of year visit, Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Defence, Yaacoub Sarraf, led a delegation today to the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura and the Mission’s area of operation in south Lebanon to extend a word of thanks to the efforts of the UN Peacekeeping Mission and to be briefed on the situation in the south, especially along the Blue Line.

In a meeting with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Col, Minister Sarraf thanked the UN Peacekeeping mission and its leadership for their continued work in maintaining the overall calm in south Lebanon and for its close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).  Mr. Sarraf also reconfirmed Lebanon’s commitment to UN Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

“As our President has already mentioned a year and a half ago, we have no belligerent intent towards anybody,” said Mr. Sarraf, adding that “it is time to go from cessation of hostilities to a permanent ceasefire.”   

For his part, UNIFIL Head of Mission, Major General Del Col, discussed the importance of continuing to use UNIFIL’s liaison and coordination mechanism to prevent misunderstandings, defuse tension and preserve stability along the Blue Line

During the course of the day, Mr. Sarraf also visited UNIFIL peacekeepers in different locations within the area of operation to thank them for being away from home during the holiday season to help maintain the overall calm in the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line.