The ceremony was attended by the highest Lebanese political and military authorities, high representatives of the international community, the Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti, the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli and the commander of the Joint Forces Command, Corps General Marco Bertolini armed. General Serra thanked the UN Secretary General Ban Ki - Moon, the Lebanese political and military leaders, the representatives of the international community and the Italian political and military authorities for the concrete support received in these 30 months of mandate. “The trust placed in me by the Lebanese, international and national authorities has allowed me to express with serenity the delicate commitment aimed at fulfilling the mandate defined by the resolution 1701 of the United Nations Security Council”. "The unanimous consent of the population of the host country, the visible improvements in the security of Southern Lebanon, the constant dialogue between the parties (Lebanon - Israel) sought in over 30 tripartite meetings convened by UNIFIL, the daily operational activities carried out on the ground in close coordination with the Lebanese armed forces, the continuous CIMIC (Civil-Military Coordination) interventions for the weaker sections of the Lebanese population and the international partnership relations have confirmed and consolidated the success of the UN Mission made up of 12.000 men and women coming from 38 nations that has lasted for over 36 years in a delicate area of the sensitive Middle Eastern region ”added gen. Greenhouse. At the end of the speech, General Serra recalled the 283 fallen of the Mission, underlining the value of their tribute in fulfilling the UN mandate officially honored with a significant suffrage ceremony. In the continuation of the ceremony, Minister Pinotti intervened who expressed his deep appreciation to General Serra for the commendable results achieved in full compliance with the UN mandate and extended his wishes for a successful mandate to General Portolano, underlining the delicacy of the work carried out by the men and women belonging to all the Italian armed forces which is always highly appreciated by all political and military authorities, national and international, but above all by the Lebanese institutions and population.
Source: Unifil MPIO, Naqoura - Maj. Fabrizio Farese
