Uruguay’s Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E. Marta Pizzanelli, travelled to the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, to offer a rich display of Uruguayan folklore and express her country’s support for United Nations peacekeeping in south Lebanon and around the world.

In her remarks to a gathering attended by UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Col, Deputy Head of Mission, Imran Riza, Deputy Force Commander, Major General Shivaram Kharel, and fellow UN peacekeepers, Pizzanelli stressed her country’s support for the work of UN peacekeepers.  “The operation of peacekeeping represents the most important of the United Nations,” she said.

Thanking Ambassador Pizzanelli for organizing the event and visiting the peacekeeping mission in the south of Lebanon, UNIFIL head Major General Del Col said such events “represent the true spirit of partnership.”

Renowned Uruguayan dancer, Carlos Borthagaray, and his wife, Naz Ilayda Uyar, accompanied the Ambassador to south Lebanon. The husband and wife team performed four dances – Tango, Milonga, Boleadoras and Gato – representing the South American country’s rich cultural heritage.

This was the first time the two took to the stage in front of UN peacekeepers. Borthagaray said it was a “unique opportunity” for them, and a proud day to be able to make peacekeepers more familiar with Uruguay and its traditions.

For today’s event, the Uruguayan Embassy had also brought with them caricatures of Uruguay’s football icons, as well as mannequins representing the country’s culture and traditions.

Uruguay has been a UNIFIL troop-contributing country since April this year.