Lebanon: UNIFIL Maritime Task Force changes command

PIO/032e

Beirut, Lebanon - The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) marked a historic occasion today when Germany handed over the command of UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force (MTF) to the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR) that is currently led by Italy. Germany led the MTF operations since its inception on 15 October 2006, following a first phase run by the Interim MTF.

The handover ceremony was held aboard the flagship FGS Bayern off the International Port of Beirut in the presence of the German Minister of Defence Franz Josef Jung, UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Claudio Graziano, the Italian Ambassador in Lebanon Gabriele Checchia representing the Italian Minister of Defence, senior officers of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Italian and German Armed Forces and UNIFIL, as well as other dignitaries and media persons. To mark the handover, outgoing MTF commander Rear Admiral Christian Luther presented a UN-Flag to Rear Admiral Ruggiero Di Biase from Italy, who is now in charge of UNIFIL's maritime operations.

'Thanks to the vigilant posture of MTF, the maritime front has been as calm as the sea today,' UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Claudio Graziano said. He congratulated the MTF personnel for their commendable work over the past 14 months. 'This has greatly contributed not only to the success of UNIFIL in implementing resolution 1701, but also directly to the security and prosperity of Lebanon as a whole,' he said.

UNIFIL MTF is the first Naval Task Force that has ever taken part in a UN peacekeeping mission. The deployment of MTF in October 2006, on the request of the Lebanese Government, was a landmark move that prompted Israel to lift its naval blockade of Lebanon. The MTF has since been assisting the Lebanese Navy in securing the country's 200 kilometres of coastline in order to help prevent the unauthorized entry of arms or related material by sea into Lebanon. The operational control of MTF has been delegated by UNIFIL Force Commander to the MTF Commander. So far eight countries have contributed naval units to the MTF: Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Turkey.

'The MTF in close coordination with the Lebanese Navy has been fulfilling its mission very effectively,' stated Rear Admiral Christian Luther. Since the start of its operations MTF has hailed more than 13,000 ships and referred 70 suspicious vessels to the Lebanese authorities for further inspection. He stressed the support provided by MTF to the Lebanese Navy. He said: 'Through our cooperation with the Lebanese Navy, UNIFIL is putting Lebanon in the position to control its territorial sea borders without assistance in the future.'

Rear Admiral Ruggiero Di Biase said that it will be for the first time that EUROMARFOR will be operating under a United Nations mandate. 'We are honoured to serve with UNIFIL and to work together with the Lebanese Navy,' he said, 'We are confident and optimistic about our mission.'

EUROMARFOR is a Maritime Multinational Force able to carry out naval, air and amphibious operations. It was formed in 1995, when the participating nations - France, Italy, Portugal and Spain - agreed to create a tailored force able to carry out multiple missions including humanitarian, disaster relief, crisis response and peacekeeping operations.

Following today's changeover, UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force will consist of the following vessels and crews:

For further information, please contact Press Officer Andrea Tenenti at the UNIFIL Public Information Office: Tel.: +961 1 827 068 (office); +961 70910064 (cell), Fax: +961 1 827 016, Email: tenenti@un.org