Representatives of the 11.000 Blue Helmets of the 38 countries that contribute to the mission, Lebanese political and military authorities, religious leaders, and members of the international community took part in the ceremony.
General Portolano, during his speech, expressed great appreciation for the work carried out by the 2006 by the Lebanese armed forces in cooperation with UNIFIL "which produced a period of calm and stability that the south of Lebanon had not known for over 30 years".
On this day particularly felt by the military and civilian staff of UNIFIL, the general then wanted to remember "the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians who lived and worked here in the South of Lebanon from the 1978, contributing to the stabilization of the area".
He concluded by turning his thoughts and that of the entire UNIFIL community to the over 300 peacekeepers who gave their lives for peace: "today we pay tribute to them and their families for the sacrifice made".
In the 1947, the UN General Assembly declared 24 October, the anniversary of the United Nations Charter, as the International Day of the United Nations, celebrated worldwide with meetings, discussions and exhibitions that highlight the work done by the UN.
Source: UNIFIL
