Soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon(UNIFIL) throw their guns in the air during the ceremony for authority transfer of the UNIFIL in Naqoura, south Lebanon, on Feb. 28, 2022.(Photos by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
BEIRUT, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, the new chief of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), vowed on Monday to ensure the sustained cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, and to foster the respect of the Blue Line by both parties.
In a statement released by UNIFIL, Saenz said he "will resort to the liaison and coordination arrangements, including the tripartite mechanisms," which have been held regularly between Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations since the end of the 2006 war in south Lebanon as essential conflict management and confidence-building mechanism.
The new commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon(UNIFIL), Spanish Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (right), receives the United Nations flag from outgoing UNIFIL chief Stefano Del Col of Italy(left) during the ceremony for UNIFIL 's authority transfer in Naqoura, south Lebanon, on Feb. 28, 2022.(Photos by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
The Spanish commander made the remarks during a ceremony held at the UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura to officially transfer authority from outgoing UNIFIL chief Stefano Del Col of Italy to him.
Saenz added that continuing the current pace of coordinated activities between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces will help maintain the stability along the Blue Line.
A soldier from the Chinese battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon(UNIFIL) arranges his comrade's uniform during the ceremony for UNIFIL's authority transfer in Naqoura, south Lebanon, on Feb. 28, 2022.(Photos by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
The Blue Line is a demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel as well as Lebanon and the Golan Heights published by the United Nations in 2000 for the purposes of determining whether Israel had fully withdrawn from Lebanon. The line, stretching for 120 km along Lebanon's southern frontier, is a key to peace in the region.
Before handing over command, Del Col applauded the cooperation of the parties for working with him, saying that "moving forward and leaving the past behind is of paramount importance for both countries. Peace is possible, but courage, commitment and progress are necessary to proceed in this direction." ■
