Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov and the Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Siniša Jurković visited the members of the Croatian contingent in the UN’s peacekeeping mission UNIFIL on 28^th and 29^th November 2018. Fifty-one members of the 2^nd Croatian Contingent currently reside in Lebanon as a part of the Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade of the Italian Armed Forces. The Croatian delegation met with the Commander of the UN’s peacekeeping mission UNIFIL in Lebanon Major General Stefano Del Col and the Commander of Base Shama (Sector West) Brigadier General Diodato Abagnara.

General Stefano Del Col from Italy lauded the Croatia Armed Forces’ engagement and participation in this UN’s peacekeeping mission and expressed his satisfaction with Croatia’s contribution to peacekeeping and global security.

Minister Krstičević thanked the members of the Croatian Armed Forces in the UNIFIL mission for the successful completion of all tasks and pointed out: “I have heard much praise from the commander of the UNIFIL mission and am extremely proud of the Croatian soldiers. By participating in UNIFIL, we strengthen the Croatian Armed Forces’ interoperability and improve the existing capabilities of our Engineer Corps, which has proven itself numerous times this year and last year when assisting civil institutions. I am glad to have had the opportunity to see the Croatian soldiers’ excellent living and working conditions in Lebanon. Their co-operation with Italian soldiers is an excellent one,” Krstičecić concluded.

General Mirko Šundov also praised the members of the Croatian contingent for their engagement in this mission, while the Commander of the Croatian Army General Siniša Jurković stressed that Croatian soldiers executed their tasks in Lebanon professionally, honourably and honestly, like true soldiers. The Commander of the 2^nd Croatian Contingent Captain Siniša Šlibar reminded that the Engineer Corps from Croatia was tasked with furnishing the UN’s camps and macadam roads as well as securing bases. The Croatian contingent also includes a counter-mine team, which is on a 24-hour stand-by, ready to operate in Sector West when necessary.

The Croatian contingent in UNIFIL is situated in Southern Lebanon, between the Litani River in North Lebanon and the so-called Blue Line, a border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, in South and Southeast Lebanon. Since 18^th October 2018, Sector West, which the Croatian contingent belongs to, has been under the command of Brigadier General Diodato Abagnara from the Italian Armed Forces.

The basic task of the Croatian Engineer Company, which belongs to the Combat Support Battalion, is to secure necessary support to UNIFIL’s forces by conducting measures which protect forces and support mobility in the area of the operation as well as by securing undisturbed tactical and strategic communication.

Text and photo by IRENA FIRŠT