UNIFIL: the Defense Commission meets the Italian military

(To UNIFIL)
04/10/18

A delegation of the Defense Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, chaired by President Gianluca Rizzo, yesterday visited the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission command and the Italian contingent deployed in the south of the country.

The parliamentarians Gianluca Rizzo, Roberto Paolo Ferrari and Marta Antonia Fascina, after the surrender of the honors, were welcomed at the UNIFIL Command by the divisional general Stefano Del Col who since the last 7 August holds the role of Head of Mission and Force Commander.

During the meeting Del Col provided a political update on the Mission and on the various operational and training activities that the blue helmets perform with the Lebanese Armed Forces and at sea with the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force. All operations are carried out in full compliance with the 1701 Resolution and associated with the United Nations Security Council. The 2433 resolution of the last 30 in August extends UNIFIL's mandate for a further year.

During the talks, General Del Col illustrated the work carried out through the tripartite forum and the UNIFIL liaison mechanisms, underlining the usefulness of these tools for building trust between the parties (Lebanon and Israel) and to preserve stability in area south of the Litani river.

"In the spirit of the 1701 resolution of 2006 and 2433 2018 we collaborate with the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure the security of the operations area and that of the Blue Helmets operating in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line"He added explaining that"the common goal is to guarantee freedom of movement, stability of the area, preventing the carrying out of hostile activities and the entry of unauthorized weapons, in full compliance with the mandate given to us by the UN Security Council."

"Your work is the demonstration that commitment and professionalism determine great results", These are the words written by Mr Rizzo, on the Roll of Honor at the end of the visit of the UNIFIL Command.

The Defense Commission delegation - accompanied by the first councilor of the Italian embassy in Lebanon, Dr. Simona de Martino and the military attaché of the Italian embassy in Lebanon, Colonel Massimiliano Sforza - visited the UN post along the Blue Line, located near Ras Al Naqoura, manned by the Italian blue helmets of the 7 ° alpine regiment. In this place periodically, since the end of the 2006 war in the south of Lebanon, the tripartite meetings between the high representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) under the aegis of UNIFIL and with the mediation of the head of the mission and Force Commander.

The visit then continued in the Italian base "Millevoi", where it was welcomed by Brigadier General Paolo Fabbri, commander of the UNIFIL Sector West and the "Julia" Alpine Brigade - Multinational Land Force (MLF). The "Julia" has been deployed for the first time ever in conformation DECI (Defense Cooperation Initiative): together with the soldiers of the Italian Armed Forces in the cells of the command and in the maneuvering units of "Leonte XXIV", not only work colleagues Slovenia and Hungary of the MLF, but also those of Austria and Croatia as evidence of the desire to build even more solid capacity to operate between different nations up to the minimum levels and make them an example to follow.

The Delegation met all the blue helmets of the Italian contingent at the main square for a greeting address. The president turned to the military thanking them and complimenting them for the professionalism shown by recalling in his words that "the UNIFIL mission is a flower in the eye not only of the Italian peace missions"He also continued"every day with your work you demonstrate that it is possible to build a better world".