Ceremony celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the UNIFIL in its Headquarters in Naqoura
The UNIFIL Command organized in the premises of its Headquarters in el-Naqoura this morning a ceremony to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the South region Brigadier General Khalil el-Gemayel who represented the Minister of National Defense Yaacoub Riyad el-Sarraf as well as the Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun. The International Force Commander and Head of Mission Major General Michael Beary also attended the ceremony in addition to a crowd of army and UNIFIL officers. Major General Beary delivered a speech on the occasion where he praised the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in safeguarding Lebanese unity, security and stability. He stressed the International Force’s keen interest in conducting the peacekeeping mission that it was entrusted with in addition to forging the best relations of cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces as a strategic partner while revoking the sacrifices of the International Force martyrs.
Brigadier General el-Gemayel delivered a speech in his turn where he congratulated the International Force on the occasion and commended the sacrifices of its troops and its close cooperation with the Army in the frame of resolution 1701 and all its clauses. “This celebration evokes in our minds the past 40 years where the UNIFIL has distinguished itself with the qualities of competence, professionalism and discipline in addition to the keen interest in treating the citizens with a sense of awareness, impartiality and responsibility and it is our right to feel proud of what we have offered to the southerners in terms of peace of mind following long years of wars, fear and concern. This peace of mind is embodied in the return to normal life in this region and I am filled with hope that this occasion will represent a motive to renew this breakthrough with confident steps toward a bright and promising future” he added.
