Unifil: The "Troop Contributing Countries Conference"

06/12/14

Four months after taking office under the leadership of Unifil, General Luciano Portolano, head of the Mission's mission and force commander, presided over his first official meeting with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the security council of the UN and 38 contributing countries.

Participants also included the representative of the UN secretary general to the Lebanese government and special coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, and the ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, Angelina Eichorst.     

During the conference, General Portolano illustrated the situation in the area of ​​responsibility in general terms, underlining that "the stability of southern Lebanon, in this difficult moment for the country committed to defending the security of its people and territorial integrity , is the result of Unifil's excellent work aimed at monitoring the cessation of hostilities, at supporting the Lebanese armed forces in controlling the territory and waters in front of Lebanon, and at assisting the population ”. In this context, the general highlighted the importance of the strategic dialogue, a mechanism aimed at enabling the Lebanese armed forces to gradually assume full and autonomous control of the area of ​​responsibility.

The Unifil commander then underlined the role played by the civil affair and the civil-military coordination unit, Unifil's interface with the authorities and the local population, the heart of the blue helmets' activities: "So far, thanks to Unifil funds and donations from contributing countries, more than 13.000 CIMIC activities were carried out, in addition to the Quick Impact Projects for the supply of basic necessities and infrastructural goods and services for the most needy local communities ”. 

Finally, General Portolano thanked the contributing nations for their efforts in providing their support in a very explosive area of ​​the Middle East, but in which "thanks to the presence of more than 11.000 peacekeepers from 38 countries and 1.000 civilian employees, security and stability are guaranteed as never happened in more than thirty years ”.

Source: Unifil MPIO, Naqoura - Maj. Fabrizio Farese