ZAGREB, November 30, 2018 – Croatia’s Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Mirko Šundov, and Army Commander General Siniša Jurković, paid a visit to the Croatian UNFIL contingent in Lebanon, which is part of the UN-led peace mission in Lebanon, on 28-29 November, the Defence Ministry said in a press release on Thursday.
The 51-strong second Croatian contingent is deployed within the Italian Garibaldi Brigade.
The Croatian delegation held talks with the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Colo, and the Commander of the Sector Headquarters in Shamaa, General Diodato Abagnara.
Del Colo commended on the engagement and performance of the Croatian contingent and expressed satisfaction with Croatia’s contribution to peace-building efforts.
Minister Krstičević was quoted as saying that he was proud of the Croatian troops in Lebanon. Our participation in UNIFIL makes the Croatian military’s interoperability stronger and facilitates efforts to upgrade its capabilities, he said.
Our army engineers are engaged in reconstructing UN camps, gravel roads and paths, and our personnel also provide security on the bases and work for the benefit of the local population, General Jurković said. He praised the Croatian troops for performing their tasks professionally and honourably.
UNIFIL has around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from 41 countries.
According to Security Council resolutions 425 and 426 of 1978, UNIFIL was established to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese government in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.
According to Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006, UNIFIL is authorised to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind.
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