On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Force Commander, Major General Aroldo Lazzaro, reflected on the founding phase of the mission, expressing hope for "achieving lasting peace in the region one day." In a speech delivered at the headquarters in Naqoura, he stated, "The ultimate success of Resolution 1701 lies in a permanent ceasefire and sustainable peace, which requires a political process; peacekeepers alone cannot achieve this, but our role is to create the conducive conditions for it."
Regarding recent tensions along the Blue Line, he noted that "peacekeepers are on the ground to defuse potential incidents and maintain calm. Thanks to their efforts and the strong commitment from the parties, the situation has not escalated. I continue to urge all parties to refrain from any actions that could lead to misunderstandings and reactions that might breach the ceasefire."
Major General Lazzaro expressed appreciation for "the contributions and dedication of the civilian and military peacekeepers who have served UNIFIL since 1978," and praised "the sacrifices of 328 military peacekeepers who have fallen, including Irish soldier Shane Rooney, who was tragically killed on January 14, 2022." He stated, "The commitment of peacekeepers over the past 45 years has been unwavering, enabling our troops from 47 different countries, supported by civilian peacekeepers from other nations, to conduct over 450 operational activities each day as they work together to implement UNIFIL's mandate on land, at sea, and in the air."
During the ceremony held today, 33 peacekeepers were awarded UN medals for their work in promoting peace in southern Lebanon.
