The President of the Republic of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, today visited the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in south Lebanon.

Upon her arrival at the UNIFIL base in Naqoura, President Kaljulaid was greeted by the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary, and received the Guard of Honour. Her 16-member delegation included high-ranking Estonian officials including General Riho Terras, the Commander of the Defence Forces of Estonia, and Marin Mõttus, the Ambassador of Estonia to Lebanon.

While acknowledging the important contribution of the Republic of Estonia to UNIFIL in fulfilling its mandated tasks in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Major General Beary briefed President Kaljulaid on the situation in the Mission’s area of operation in south Lebanon.

As one of 40 contributors to UNIFIL’s more than 10,500-strong peacekeeping force, Estonia currently has 38 troops deployed in south Lebanon. The Republic started sending its troops to UNIFIL, operating under the resolution 1701, in 2015.