20/06/2015 - As part of the XIII edition of the "Heads of Military Components Conference", taking place from 15 to 19 June at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Major General Luciano Portolano, head of mission and commander of the forces of UNIFIL , met the ambassadors of the 5 permanent member countries of the Security Council and those of the contributing countries of Peacekeepers to the UN mission in Southern Lebanon.
At the center of the talks held yesterday the situation on the geopolitical context of the Middle East region, with particular reference to the climate of strong uncertainty due to the Syrian conflict, and the updating of the operational activities and initiatives undertaken by the UNIFIL mission to achieve the objectives contained in the UN Security Council 1701 resolution.
On this occasion General Portolano reiterated the importance of supporting the dialogue between the parties both through bilateral meetings and through the so-called "tripartite table" tool, so that UNIFIL can continue to be a "fundamental instrument of connection and interrelation for the resolution of disputes and misunderstandings capable of hindering the process of pacification and stabilization of the area ".
"Faced with the generalized picture of regional instability - he told the ambassadors - the need to increase political and diplomatic efforts in an attempt to reach a lasting peace and definitively consolidate the stabilization process assured so far by the UNIFIL blue helmets jointly with the Lebanese Armed Forces ".
On the sidelines of the talks with the diplomats, General Portolano met separately the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni with whom he addressed the main problems connected with the implementation and implementation of resolution 1701, especially in the current moment of tension in the Middle East and in the Euro-Atlantic region, highlighting at the same time the strong determination of UNIFIL in continuing to guarantee the maintenance of stability through the cessation of hostilities, support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and assistance to the civilian population.
Source: UNIFIL - PIO magg. Paolo Lafiosca