Division General Luciano Portolano handed over, two years later, the command of the UN mission in Lebanon to the Irish general Michael Beary.
In his farewell speech, Division General Luciano Portolano expressed satisfaction and gratitude, for the proven sensation of great closeness and respect for the Lebanese authorities and people; "Thank you for the support, esteem and appreciation you have always shown towards the work of UNIFIL peacekeepers".
General Portolano highlighted the excellent level of preparation and the extraordinary capacity for cooperation and intervention achieved by the Lebanese armed forces and by the entire security apparatus "always in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which moreover, in these days, it is celebrating its first 10 years of life. "
"Thank you," continued General Portolano, "with your firm and resolute support, you have allowed the UNIFIL mission to find effective solutions in all circumstances to resolve tensions in southern Lebanon's operations, preserving stability and guaranteeing one longer periods of calm in this area. The situation along the Blue Line has remained solid despite the turbulent condition of many of the surrounding areas. It is a great result of UNIFIL for which I thank all the parties with whom we have worked and who have made it possible ".
"Stability and lasting peace are the goals to be achieved and we must continue to work together to secure them in southern Lebanon."
The Undersecretary of State for Defense Gioacchino Alfano, highest authority, guest at the ceremony, wanted to highlight how Lebanon is a theater of great strategic importance for the security of the Mediterranean and Europe: "the foreign policy of the Italian government has always that of supporting the role of the United Nations, for an increasingly incisive presence of this Organization to guarantee world security, accentuating and favoring its actions. "
Mr Alfano thanked all the members of UNIFIL who operate in complete synergy: "UNIFIL has demonstrated its continued validity over the years: it has in fact continued to effectively fulfill its important stabilization function, preventing the aggravation of tension in the region, and ensuring the development of the dialogue between the parties in the three-UN format. Today we can proudly say that UNIFIL's area of operations is probably the safest in the country. "
The ceremony was attended by the top Lebanese political and military authorities, senior representatives of the international community, the undersecretary of defense, Mr Alfano, the Italian ambassador in Lebanon if Massimo Marotti and the commander of the Interactive Operations Command, Admiral Cavo Dragone.
Italy is part of the multinational force called UNIFIL which from the 1978 operates along the "armistice" line Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel.
Before the July / August crisis, 2006 the UNIFIL multinational force had the task of verifying the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the southern border of Lebanon and assisting the same government to restore its authority in the area.
After the crisis of July / August 2006, to the previous tasks, support was added to the Lebanese armed forces in the deployment in the south of the country, humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and monitoring of the cessation of hostilities in the area between the " Blue Line ”and the Litani river.
More than 10.500 soldiers from 40 Nations and about 1000 civil employees participate in the UNIFIL mission.
