As part of celebrations to mark the 36th anniversary of its peacekeeping presence in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL organized two concerts in a special performance titled "Music for Friendship". A donation of technical equipment to the Meiss El Jabal Social Development Center, the Borj el Molouk Orphanage and Frun Al Nour School for children with special needs in South Lebanon was also made.

"The donation of laptops, projectors, photocopy machines, UPS, monitors and sound systems will enable the centres to enhance their education and training capabilities," explained UNIFIL's CIMIC officer, Captain Ciro Parisi.

"Music for Friendship" project was organized under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Lebanon, with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute and Italian Cooperation along with eight UNIFIL troop contributing countries (Austria, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Spain).

The first concert was performed by two Italian bands, "Vibrazioni Mediterranee" and "Dangerous Crew", at UNIFIL headquarters on 18 March. The second performance will be a classical music concert by a trio of Lebanese and Italian artists on 27 March in Tyre at the St. Thomas Cathedral. The equipment for the donation will be officially handed over after the second concert.

In remarks after the concert, UNIFIL Civil Affairs Officer Mohammad Abou Jahjah pointed out that "Music for Friendship is an opportunity to assert the cultural interaction and close ties between UNIFIL and the local residents in south Lebanon."

Mr. Ali Charafeddine, the director of Mosan center for children with special needs, said that the center's participation in "Music for Friendship" through three stage performances presented by the center's children is a way to thank UNIFIL for its continuous support for our center."

"Music for Friendship" mirrored the real environment of the peacekeeping mission which is an international melting pot. The occasion brought together the Phoenician ship embodied on the stage of Italair with 37 international flags of UNIFIL's troop-contributing countries.