Beirut , Lebanon – The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force (MTF) today underwent a transfer of command from Rear Admiral Jean-Thierry Pynoo of Belgium to Rear Admiral Ruggiero Di Biase of Italy .

Media agencies are invited to attend the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's Maritime Task Force (MTF) transfer of command ceremony on the 30th of May, 2009 on board the BNS Leopold I of UNIFIL's MTF.

Belgium will be handing over the leadership of the MTF to Italy.

(Mr. Alain Le Roy during a press encounter at the Blue Line in south Lebanon Monday, 4 May 2009)

This is my first visit to UNIFIL since taking up office in 2008. I spent today with the UNIFIL troops in the field to see first hand the way UNIFIL operates.