11/06/2015 - Major General Luciano Portolano, head of the mission and commander of UNIFIL forces in Southern Lebanon, met yesterday, in Beirut, the prime minister, Tammam Salam (opening photo), and the president of parliament, Nabih Berri.

A series of meetings marked by the utmost cordiality and concreteness during which not only the main issues dictated by the situation of the country and the region were addressed, but also focused on the need to continue the joint effort to consolidate the stabilization process in Lebanon of the South and in the search for solutions to the various problems between the parties in full respect and in the sense indicated by the UN Security Council 1701 resolution.

There was no lack of references to the most recent incidents of violation of the Blue Line, like that of the last few days in the Sheeba area, a crossroads between Syria, Lebanon and Israel, about which General Portolano recalled that while it is impossible for UNIFIL to regulate the question of the status of Sheeba's farms, the effort is was to avoid a dangerous escalation of the situation also through bilateral meetings and the continuous dialogue with the parties that continue to be the first responsible for compliance with the Blue Line and of the violations associated with it.

"The long period of stability that Southern Lebanon is experiencing - said the general - is above all the result of the joint efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL which aim at the definitive stabilization and normalization of the South of Lebanon and more generally of the whole country . UNIFIL must be considered the fundamental instrument of connection and interrelation to avoid misunderstandings and resolve disputes that can increase tension and undermine the stability of the area and therefore the entire peace process ".

The prime minister and the president of parliament (photo below), in underlining the excellent state of relations between the political authorities and the UNIFIL mission, had words of great appreciation for the work done by the blue helmets, under the command of General Portolano , whose presence testifies to the commitment of the international community to promote the peaceful composition of the old critical issues in this delicate geographical area.

Source: UNIFIL - PIO magg. Paolo Lafiosca