EU Ambassadors visit UNIFIL HQ and the Blue Line

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Michael Beary and other senior members of the UN Mission with the visiting delegation of the European Union at the UNIFIL Headquarters

Lebanese Armed Forces officials at the South Litani Sector Headquarters in Tyre greet the Head of EU Delegation to Lebanon, Ambassador Christina Lassen.

A UNIFIL official briefs the 15-member delegation of Ambassadors and senior officials from European Union Member States during their visit to a UN position along the Blue Line.

UNIFIL Deputy Head of Mission Imran Riza has a conversation with the Head of EU Delegation to Lebanon, Ambassador Christina Lassen, at a UN position along the Blue Line.

UNIFIL senior leadership joins the visiting Ambassadors and senior officials from European Union Member States for a group photo at a UN position along the Blue Line.

The visiting Ambassadors and senior officials from European Union Member States are joined by senior UNIFIL officials near the Ras Al Naqoura crossing.

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25 Oct 2017

EU Ambassadors visit UNIFIL HQ and the Blue Line

UNIFIL today welcomed a delegation of 15 Ambassadors and senior officials from European Union member states accredited to Lebanon and thanked them for their support for the work of UN Peacekeepers in helping to maintain the stability in the south of Lebanon.

Along with the Ambassador of the EU Delegation, Christina Lassen, the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary, met with the officials from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden at the base in Naqoura.

The delegation was briefed on the Mission’s work in its area of operations south of the Litani river, including the increased collaboration with a newly reinforced Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in furthering the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 (2006) and 2373, which extended the UNIFIL mandate until 31 August 2018.

They also visited a UN position along the Blue Line to get a first-hand look at UNIFIL’s work in patrolling the 120 kilometre line, which confirms the withdrawal of Israeli forces in 2000, and to learn more about the regular liaison and coordination between parties including the Blue Line marking and the tripartite meetings.   

The Delegation later met with LAF’s South Litani Sector Commander, Brigadier General Robert El Alam, and other senior officers who briefed the delegation on LAF’s work towards implementing 1701.  LAF is the strategic partner of UNIFIL.

EU countries contribute a significant number of the around 10,500 UN peacekeepers to UNIFIL.

UNIFIL was created by UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426 in March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area.

Today, the Mission maintains an intensive level of some 13,500 operational activities monthly, by day and night, in the area of operations. It is complemented by a seven-vessel Maritime Task Force.

 

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Article: Tilak Pokharel
Video camera: Mohamad Hamze
Video Editor: Suzane Badereddine
Motion Graphics: Zeina Ezzeddine
Photo: Pascual Gorriz
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