UNIFIL Head of Mission Major General Beary Meets with designate PM Hariri on continued farewell calls

24 Jul 2018

UNIFIL Head of Mission Major General Beary Meets with designate PM Hariri on continued farewell calls

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Michael Beary today had separate meetings with designate Prime Minister Saad Hariri and members of the diplomatic corps as part of his farewell tour and to update on the work of UNIFIL. 

During the meeting with Mr. Hariri, Major General Beary expressed gratitude for the support received from the Government of Lebanon during his time as the UNIFIL head. He also briefed the designate Prime Minister on the situation in the UNIFIL area of operation in south Lebanon, which remains calm and stable with joint efforts of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).  

The UNIFIL head also emphasized that, since August 2017, UNIFIL has significantly increased the number of activities carried out with LAF.  

“This momentum must be maintained,” he said, while highlighting the importance of deploying the LAF’s Model Regiment, which will gradually take over UNIFIL’s roles in south Lebanon. “Lebanon must continue to demonstrate progress in enhancing LAF’s capacity and presence in the UNIFIL area of operation,” he added.  In the days leading up to his departure on 7 August, the UNIFIL head will continue to meet with various Lebanese officials, members of the diplomatic corps and fellow peacekeepers.

Earlier today, Major General Beary also met with ambassadors of UNIFIL’s troop contributing countries and the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to brief them on the Security Council Report presented to the council in New York yesterday. 

Major General Beary is leaving UNIFIL after two years at the helm of the UN peacekeeping mission, and after serving three previous tours of duty in south Lebanon. He will be replaced by Major General Stefano Del Col of Italy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stills: Press Office of the Prime Minister
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------