UNIFIL's Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Col, received a high-ranking political delegation led by Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab yesterday at the Mission Command in Naqoura, southern Lebanon .
In an atmosphere characterized by maximum collaboration and synergy with the UNIFIL mission, the delegation, made up of about ten members, including the deputy prime minister and defense minister Zeina Aakar and the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) gen. Joseph Aoun, was welcomed by General Del Col, who illustrated the operations conducted by the peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, in an Area of Responsibility between the Litani River and the Blue Line.
During the meeting, the head of mission thanked the Lebanese government for the constant commitment and cooperation in the implementation of the UNIFIL mandate enshrined in Resolution 1701 of 2006.
Professionalism, synergy and coordination mechanisms between the parties are at the basis of the success in keeping southern Lebanon stable for 14 years, said Del Col. "After this long period of stability, unprecedented for the Region, we must now focus our commitment to fulfilling the mandate effectively and without obstacles to consolidate the results achieved and ensure lasting peace in the future".
The head of mission added that the visit "strongly encourages" both UNIFIL peacekeepers and the LAF to further strengthen cooperation in the security framework.
General Del Col also praised the prime minister's leadership in responding to the crisis that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For his part, Prime Minister Diab praised the role of UNIFIL, together with the LAF, in maintaining the cessation of hostilities, allowing southern Lebanon to have a calm and stable situation since 2006.
It also expressed its full support in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which forms the core of UNIFIL's entire mandate and for which the parties have expressed their utmost commitment.
Your presence here did not come only from international will, but also from Lebanese desire and is therefore accepted by the inhabitants of the south of the country, said the head of the government.
Lebanon undertakes to respect Resolution 1701, the role of the United Nations forces, supporting the renewal of the mandate and the number of personnel without any changes.
Prime Minister Diab also reiterated the importance of continuous coordination and close cooperation between UNIFIL and LAF, thus facilitating the mission itself and promoting the confidence of the people of the South in the work of the blue helmets.
Lebanon also expresses its deep gratitude towards the contributing countries, as with their contribution they have shown the utmost respect for those values of peace enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Premier concluded.
This was Prime Minister Diab's first visit to UNIFIL Headquarters since taking office last January and follows former Prime Minister Hariri's visit to South Lebanon in 2017.
