Finnish-Irish battalion ready for their task in Southern Lebanon

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A Finnish-Irish battalion started on Wednesday on their first day as peacekeepers in the municipality of Blatt, adjacent to Marjayoun, in Southern Lebanon. In preparation for their tasks, they were urged to familiarise themselves with each other, and to go and pick up their new equipment.
      At 8.00 a.m. an engineering company of 210 Finnish soldiers were given a briefing on the way they were supposed to act in the area.
      "Remember that you are here first and foremost as peacekeepers and soldiers. While appreciating your construction skills, I have a lot of respect for you as soldiers. You have to look like soldiers, too. This means that nobody walks around using sandals", instructed Major Juha Helle, the officer commanding the Finnish-Irish unit.
      Furthermore, Helle demanded the peacekeepers have respect for the local people. He reminded the soldiers of the fact that one Finnish flag could ruin the reputation of all Finns.
      For the time being, the Finns and the Irish are still keeping to themselves, but the cooperation between the two nationalities is expected to work out well.
     
At 10.00 a.m. the Finnish-Irish battalion gathered together for the first time in order to listen to the greeting by Lieutenant Colonel Osmo Toivanen.
      "At the moment, the situation in the area is calm. But it can change in an hour, so keep your eyes and ears open and try to avoid trouble", Toivanen urged.
      Lt.Col. Toivanen noted further that the Finnish and Irish peacekeepers form one joint battalion, one unit, and they should avoid forming any small cliques.
      The battalion was also briefed on the use of alcohol. While coffee, soft drinks, and water can be freely consumed in the village cafés, the use of alcohol is strictly forbidden outside the mess hall of the camp.
      The camp named as Camp Ida is located some 600 metres above sea level. It should be completed by mid-December, and at that point the battalion should be ready for its primary task, which is to to back up the construction work of other UNIFIL troops.
     
Lt.Col. Toivanen considers that in terms of security, the situation has been good so far. The Hezbollah troops have stayed away, and the Lebanese army has been able to spread across the area.
      The only problems have been the excessive bureaucracy of the United Nations and the shortage of staff at the headquarters of UNIFIL at Naqura.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish base being set up on hills of Southern Lebanon (30.10.2006)

Links:
  United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

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