The ceremonial presentation of the UN mission medals for the soldiers of the 15th Austrian UNIFIL contingent took place on Thursday at the Austrian base in “Camp Naqoura”.
The procedure for the medal ceremony was precisely specified by the Protocol Office of the Head of Mission & Force Commanders and left no room for individual design. However, the entry and exit of the soldiers, the parade of honor and the flag troops could be arranged according to the ideas of the Austrian commanders. Austrian marching music provided a special setting for the ceremony. Both the UNIFIL commander, the Italian Major General Stefano Del Col, and his Nepalese deputy, Major General Shivaram Kharel, attended the parade. Together with the Austrian Embassy Counsellor and Consul Stefan Veit and Brigadier General Roger El Helou from the Lebanese army, they presented the medals.
The ceremony honored 57 Austrian soldiers who have been on their first UNIFIL mission in Lebanon for around three months. In his subsequent speech, Major General Del Col thanked the entire Austrian contingent for their achievements and their commitment to maintaining peace. After the festive ceremony, all guests were invited to a meal at the “Edelweiß” care facility. March 7 was also a special day because it marked the half-time of the 15th Austrian UNIFIL contingent. To mark the occasion, a “mountain party” was held in the evening with numerous international guests.
