UNIFIL delivers vehicles to the Lebanese Army, 26 April 2010

27 Apr 2010

UNIFIL delivers vehicles to the Lebanese Army, 26 April 2010

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) delivered 24 vehicles to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at a ceremony at UNIFIL's Headquarters in Naqoura on Monday 26 April 2010.

The delivery of the UN-owned vehicles, which included four ambulances, is part of UNIFIL's continued efforts to support the Lebanese Army.

UNIFIL constantly campaigns with the international community for supporting the LAF with the technical and material resources it requires to fulfill its vital responsibilities and to eventually assume full and effective security control over UNIFIL's area of operations and the Lebanese territorial waters in line with the UN Security Council resolution 1701.

UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas used the occasion to stress once again the bonds with the LAF and UNIFIL's determined efforts to assist.

"The provision of UNIFIL assets to our strategic partners comes in line with our Mission objectives which crystallize in the form of continuous support to the Lebanese Armed Forces deployment south of the Litani River," Major-General Asarta said at the ceremony that was attended by Brigadier-General Louis Hanna, LAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, and Brigadier-General Khalil Msan, LAF Commander in south Litani area.

The UNIFIL Force Commander said he was certain the transfer "will strengthen our already strong bonds and will allow us to work better together towards our common goal of maintaining peace and stability in southern Lebanon."

Brigadier-General Hanna relayed LAF Commander General Jean Kahwaji's "deep appreciation" to UNIFIL Command for the initiative, which he said confirms the mutual cooperation.

"We look at the cooperation between LAF and UNIFIL and to the ongoing coordination between them as a basic pillar to consolidate stability on the southern border," Brigadier-General Hanna said.

Although used, the vehicles delivered Monday are in good running condition.

UNIFIL's Director of Mission Support Girish Sinha disclosed at the ceremony that eight Armoured Personnel Carriers are in the pipeline for donation through the French Government and awaiting finalization of the formalities. An additional 39 4x4 vehicles will be proposed for donation in the next few months, he said.