27.03.2022.
Minister Stefanović visits Serbian Force Protection Platoon in Naqoura
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has continued his visit by stopping by the members of the Serbian Armed Forces in UNIFIL’s Sector West. Also, Stefanović met with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz, in the Naqoura Headquarters.
The Minister informed Major General Lázaro about the participation of members of the Serbian Armed Forces in UN and EU multinational operations, emphasizing that the contingent in Lebanon is the largest one, with 177 peacekeepers. He conveyed Serbian soldiers’ good impressions about the accommodation and working conditions in sectors East and West and expressed satisfaction with the excellent cooperation between Serbian soldiers and Spanish and Italian peacekeepers with whom they serve as part of their contingents.
UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Lázaro, said that Minister Stefanović’s visit was important for getting the clear picture of the situation in the field, but also for the Serbian peacekeepers themselves. He briefed the Minister about the current security situation in the UNIFIL area of responsibility and the importance of UNIFIL activities, and stressed that members of the Serbian Armed Forces were exceptionally professional and that Minister Stefanovic's visit was very important support for them.
- I am really proud of the Serbian soldiers’ effort and dedication and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to personally see the living and working conditions in the mission. Participation in UN operations provides us with a high level of training and increases the interoperability of our armed forces - said Stefanović, pointing out that the Republic of Serbia remains committed to preserving peace and security in our region and in the world.
In a conversation with Minister Stefanović, UNIFIL’s Sector West Commander, Brigadier General Massimiliano Stecca, also assessed the Serbian Armed Forces as a professional and well trained partner and expressed satisfaction with the excellent cooperation with our members.The Force Protection Platoon Commander at the Sector West base, Captain Igor Fazekaš, informed Minister Stefanović that the personnel were trained and highly motivated for performing tasks, which the Minister could personally see in a direct conversation with members.
Besides the Minister of Defence, the delegation representing the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Force also includes the Second Army Brigade Commander, Colonel Siniša Stašević, Head of the International Military Cooperation Department, Colonel Nebojša Svjetlica and Head of the Peacekeeping Operations Centre, Colonel Mirjana Milenković. There are currently 177 Serbian peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, most of whom are members of the Infantry Company in Sector East and the Force Protection Platoon in Sector West, while the Serbian Armed Forces officers serve in the Mission Headquarters.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY27.03.2022
mp4 (172,34 MB)The visit
