French students visit UNIFIL HQ

UNIFIL today organized the visit of a group of 23 French university students to the Mission Headquarters in Naqoura, south Lebanon. During the visit facilitated by UNIFIL’s Civil Affairs Office, the students from Paris Dauphine University were briefed on the crucial work UNIFIL has been doing since 1978 in south Lebanon by a number of UNIFIL officials, including the Mission’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Christian Thiébault, who is also from France. Brig. Gen. Thiébault spoke about UNIFIL’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the Mission’s 1,060 square kilometre area of operation between the Litani River and the Blue Line. He also spoke about the crucial role played by the French troops in the Mission. French soldiers were among the first peacekeepers to arrive in south Lebanon in 1978 – just four days after the adoption of the resolution 425 establishing the Mission. French were also among the first to deploy after UNIFIL troops number was increased substantially following the 2006 war. The visiting students of international affairs were briefed on various topics related to UNIFIL, including the context under which it was established, its mandate, role and responsibility.