The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
marked Monday the 39th anniversary of its establishment with a ceremony
at its Headquarters in Naqoura highlighting “the Mission’s commitment to
providing a safe and secure environment for the local population in
southern Lebanon,” a UNIFIL statement said. “Since 2006, UNIFIL successfully facilitated the
development of communities and civil society, while simultaneously
assisting the Government of Lebanon in extending its authority in the
South of the country,” said the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force
Commander Major-General Michael Beary. “Our work, conducted in conjunction with our valued
strategic partners and colleagues in the Lebanese Armed Forces, has also
created an environment for economic development and investment,
activities that will, in time, facilitate meaningful economic growth for
the growing population of South Lebanon,” he added. In attendance at the ceremony were representatives of
the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and other security agencies, the
Governor of Nabatieh Mahmoud al-Mawla, local mayors and religious
leaders.
Beary and Brigadier-General Mohamed Janbay, representing
LAF Commander, laid wreaths at the UNIFIL cenotaph paying tributes to
the memory of the 325 U.N. peacekeepers from all around the world who
have “given their lives in the cause of peace in southern Lebanon since
UNIFIL’s establishment in 1978,” the UNIFIL statement said. During the ceremony, UNIFIL’s leadership and the LAF
representative awarded 45 military staff officers with the U.N. Medal
for their contribution to fulfilling the Mission’s mandate. In addressing the ceremony, the UNIFIL Force Commander
highlighted the Mission’s continued presence in south Lebanon as “a
clear demonstration of the U.N.’s commitment and enduring support to
Lebanon and its people.” “I will never tire from expressing my admiration of the
residents of the South. UNIFIL and its 40 different Troop Contributing
Countries have been welcome guests since 1978 throughout our entire area
of operations,” Beary said.
The UNIFIL Force Commander strongly emphasized the “close bonds” between the Mission and the people of south Lebanon.
“We are only guests here in this wonderful country. We
need the continued help, guidance and assistance of our LAF colleagues,
the regions respected religious leaders, local politicians and the
communities themselves, if we are to achieve the elusive peace that will
guarantee the future of the current and future generations,” he said.
UNIFIL was created by the U.N. Security Council
resolutions 425 and 426 of March 19, 1978, to confirm Israel’s
withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and
assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in
the area.
Following the July-August conflict in 2006, the Security
Council, through its resolution 1701, significantly enhanced UNIFIL’s
mandate and capacity and assigned it additional tasks working closely
with LAF in Southern Lebanon.
Today, UNIFIL comprises almost 10,500 military personnel
from 40 countries, including the Maritime Task Force, the only naval
force in peacekeeping operations — and some 1,000 civilian national and
international staff.
